'Doug' Wheatley appalled at plans to fit schools with AC units
“We need to take a pause,” said Wheatley on the 3D show aired on May 10, 2013, “but I think the tendency here isn’t to take a pause… just to go from one thing to the other.”
Wheatley felt that the Territory appeared to want to emulate everywhere else, noting that when he went to school, there were no air condition units and students often spent most of the day outdoors.
“I was appalled when I heard the Minister talking about air conditioning all the schools,” Douglas Wheatley said.
He added that this was not necessary at all. “It is far too expensive.”
The Isabella Morris Primary School was forced to close its doors earlier this week following the exacerbation of a mould outbreak that affected teachers and students and even forced some to seek medical treatment.
Stakeholders met with the Education Minister Hon. Myron V. Walwyn at the school’s compound on May 9, 2013 to discuss the way forward but have so far been unable to come up with a workable solution to the problem.
He also spoke about the Central Administration building complex which he felt was costing the Territory a ‘bundle’ in the area of electricity.
The host conceded that air conditioning may be needed for certain rooms in order to preserve certain documents, but reasoned that the entire complex did not need to be air conditioned, especially since it was so close to the water’s edge.
Meanwhile, commentator Natalio Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru believed that the installation of air condition units may have contributed to the current mould situation at the Isabella Morris Primary School in Carrot Bay.
“We need a proper investigation into what’s causing the mould,” he said, “many of us suspect it has to do with air conditioning.”
Sowande reflected on the plan by the Minister for Education and Culture to install air condition units all the schools of the Territory and felt it would be a bad idea. “I think that would be a horrible idea from the standpoint of the cost of it and also health,” he said.
“This thing is really causing more problems than it really needs to cause,” Sowande continued.
He felt that the problems with mould were only developing once schools were being outfitted with air conditioning. “It seems as though some of the moisture and whatever else… problems that we had… it never escalated to this point.”
The commentator also felt that keen attention needs to be paid to the situation so that the same errors were not repeated at other schools.
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13 Responses to “'Doug' Wheatley appalled at plans to fit schools with AC units”
This is what happens when you put people in charge of things who don't have the first clue about what they are doing. They THINK they know best, but they don't. For once, PLEASE consult people who DO KNOW about such things before forging ahead with this plan.
Either build NEW schools designed for air-conditioning or leave well enough alone!
Further, because schools were not air conditioned in the 50s and 60s do not mean that they should not be today. Well, some areas did not have electricity in the 50s. Air conditioning is a comfort that is the norm in the developed and developing world. Some benefits include enhance productivity, protection and preservation of documents.......etc. True, poorly designed, installed, operated, maintained, cheap units can be pricey. But there energy efficient state-of-the-art brands on the market that are affordable to operate. These units can significantly improved the tonnage delivered per kilowatt hour, markedly lowering the operational cost. Sometimes you get what you pay for; cheap units equal high operating costs.
Additionally, in regards to mold, the theory on mold infestation is basic. Control moisture and mold growth is arrested. Mold need moisture, a food sources and mold spores to flourish; and withholding anyone of these elements and mold is controlled. But the truth is that mold spores and food sources ( paper, wood products...etc) are everywhere and almost impractical to withhold. Moisture is the most practical to control. Stop leaks, flooding, stagnant water, condensation.....etc. and mold is controlled. So how can air conditioning systems contribute to mold infestation? Condensation, stagnation water in condensate drain pan and lines....etc. Stagnant water in pans and lines can caused Legionnaires health issue.