US Heatwave: Considerations for Students Amidst Soaring Temperatures

Students and teachers across the US may return to scorching classrooms at institutions that are ill-prepared to handle the searing temperatures as the summer heats up.

Over the course of the summer, many areas of the nation received heat alerts and warnings, and many individuals struggled to stay cool at home or were unable to pay their exorbitant electricity bills, running the risk of having their power cut off. 

Schools around the nation are reportedly struggling to keep buildings cool, with many having kids returning in August. Experts attribute this to budget constraints and old infrastructure.

According to the most recent numbers available from the Government Accountability Office’s 2020 report, almost 36,000 schools nationwide require new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. 

According to Joseph Allen, director of Harvard University’s Healthy Buildings Program, the issue is not simply common in regions of the country that are known for having hotter climates; it is also a concern in regions with colder climates.

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Heat-Driven School Closures: Philadelphia and Beyond

90 Philadelphia schools were compelled to close at the beginning of June due to the heat. In order to deal with the extreme heat, schools on the West Coast have also been compelled to close early. 

In the US, there are about 100,000 public schools. The overall score for school building conditions was D+ according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. 

According to a 2020 research by the Center for Climate Integrity, there would be at least 30 more school-year days over 80 degrees Fahrenheit than there were in 1970 in 156 school districts serving roughly 1.3 million kids. 

By 2025, new cooling system prices are expected to exceed $1 billion in California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, according to the center. 

Researchers also discovered that by 2025, the expense of additional school air conditioning systems will cost $500 million for each of Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, and Utah.

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Source: www.cbsnews.com