CRI Hosts IAQ Forum for Connecticut Schools

Dalton, GA, March 27, 2006--The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) last week hosted a forum in Hartford on "Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in Connecticut Schools." CRI partnered with a group of Connecticut school-based organizations to host the forum to address a growing concern among parents and school administrators about whether or not carpet contributed to a healthy school environment. The objective of the forum was to discuss how best to achieve good IAQ in schools and to address the pros and cons of carpet in schools. Guest speakers included: Dr. Michael Berry, former director of indoor air research for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Angie Testa, a representative of the American Lung Association of Connecticut; Dr. Alan Hedge, a Cornell University indoor environmental expert; Sandra J. Fusco-Walker, an advocate for Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics; Jack Levin, the director of finance and administration for Amity Regional School District in CT; Werner Braun, president of the Carpet and Rug Institute; and Catherine Wilt, Director of Policy, Center for Clean Products & Clean Technologies, University of Tennessee. Each presenter was allotted 30 minutes, followed by a rigorous question and answer session. Eighty-three people registered for the event and included nurses, custodians, facility managers, school board members, PTA representatives, and school superintendents.