As cities continue to expand, air quality has become a global issue. Protecting our students’ health is something that cannot be put off any longer.
The classroom environment cannot escape from the impact of worsening air pollution. Sub-optimal air quality has a negative impact on our student’s health and comfort, seriously affecting their learning effectiveness.

This is particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when parents and teachers want students to learn in a healthy and high-quality learning environment. Many educational institutions had spent countless hours seeking effective solutions over indoor air quality, but to no avail.

In light of this, Smart Energy Connect (SEC) has introduced the Smart Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Solution that uses innovative technologies to improve indoor air quality in schools, giving students reassurance over their learning environment.

Software and hardware integration to achieve real-time control

The Air Quality Health Index is an air pollution index based on risks to health. Students are susceptible to air pollution. In view of the indoor quality issues on campus, the Education Bureau, the Environmental Protection Department, and related departments have jointly examined the impact of air quality on the health of students, with the aim of ensuring a safe learning environment for our students.

To reflect the importance the educational sector has placed on air quality, SEC provides new technologies and products to enable schools to improve their air quality. In special circumstances, close monitoring of changes in air quality can safeguard the student’s learning environment.

The indoor air quality sensor monitors temperature, humidity, CO2, VOC, PM2.5, lighting, and noise pollution. The air purifier has an IAQ mode and energy-saving mode. When PM2.5 concentration goes beyond a certain level, the air purifier will automatically be activated. It will also be deactivated outside working hours. The interactive indoor air quality sensor effectively detects indoor air pollution levels (PM2.5 and CO2), gives real-time monitoring statistics, and analyses historical data to reflect the indoor air quality.

When indoor air quality reaches a level which requires attention, it will send out a warning. The Smart Sensor Automation is the platform that can control the air purifier and analyse data collected by the indoor air quality sensor. Not only can it directly turn the air purifier on/off and control its oscillation speed, but it can also categorise data into three broad areas based on indoor air quality parameters. The school can browse the colour-coded displays to quickly and directly assess indoor air quality.

The indoor air quality sensors can monitor temperature, humidity, CO2, VOC, PM2.5, lighting brightness, and noise pollution. While the air purifier is a platform that controls all functions of the air purifier, including turning on/off and adjusting the oscillation speed, with detailed display of data collected by the indoor air quality sensor, alongside the Hong Kong Government Air Quality Health Index, and scoring indoor air quality against the Labour Department’s rules on brightness levels and US noise control rules. Combined with our Smart Sensor Automation, the platform can control and automate activation of air purifier, with different modes available, such as:

IAQ mode When PM2.5 concentration exceeds specified levels, the air purifier will be automatically activated
Energy-saving mode Automatically turn off outside working hours

Users can also check the latest data at any time. Data is automatically refreshed every 30 minutes.

School principals endorse air quality sensors supporting STEM education

Earlier, SEC gave away 70 sets of air quality sensors together with an air purifier to pioneering schools, including:

• 4 primary schools: Christian Alliance S.Y. Yeh Memorial Primary School, Mission Covenant Church Holm Glad Primary School, Buddhist Lam Bing Yim Memorial School, and Chan’s Creative School (H.K. Island), each getting 10 units; and
• 2 secondary schools (Buddhist Yip Kei Nam Memorial College and Wai Kiu College), each getting 15 units.

SEC indicates that, in addition to gifting the units to these pilot schools, installation will be arranged with the school in classrooms and teacher’s rooms. Once tested, the installation is complete.

Principal of the Mission Covenant Church Holm Glad Primary School, Ms. Mah Wing Yee Vernier, Principal of the Christian Alliance S.Y. Yeh Memorial Primary School, Ms Chui Sik Yee, Principal of the Buddhist Lam Bing Yim Memorial School, Ms. Li Yuk Chi, and Principal of the Chan’s Creative School (H.K. Island), Ms. Cheng Wai Ki unanimously indicate that they are very pleased that SEC will be giving their schools the air quality sensors. The schools will have the devices installed in their teacher’s rooms, primary one classrooms, and special rooms first. During the pandemic, constant monitoring of air quality will reassure both teachers and parents.

Principal of the Buddhist Yip Kei Nam Memorial College, Mr. So Ka Leung further indicates that the air quality sensors allow students to access to Big Data on the school’s air quality, which coincides with the school’s STEM curriculum and extends environmental awareness to their daily lives.

Principal of Wai Kiu College, Mr. Cheng Che Yin express his gratitude to SEC. As the school is a direct subsidy school, it has some flexibility in its policies. Mr. Cheng has promptly decided to purchase additional air quality sensors to be installed across the school, so that teachers and students can benefit immediately.

(Souce: ACE)