In addition to full-time in-person instruction, thousands of school systems now give students the choice of online or hybrid instruction. Following Covid, school administrations are faced with a few unique and important challenges, including maintaining the health and safety of the building's Overlays New Braunfels occupants, ensuring the operational effectiveness of their school infrastructure, and making it possible for their students to learn effectively.
The National Center for Education Statistics released a startling data revealing that 29% of public schools in the United States are over 25 years old or was rebuilt approximately 20 years ago. In order to meet the new requirements for safety and hybrid occupancy, facility managers and landlords have had to reevaluate how many of their schools approach infrastructure, particularly ventilation systems.
However, with accessible options like Sidewalk, building owners now have the chance to upgrade their structures not only to make them safer, but also smarter, more energy-efficient (which means less expensive to operate), and even more comfortable. Here are some tips on how to make your school's environment smart and secure for pupils if you're the facility manager in charge of these crucial goals.
Add some fresh air. In terms of health and security precautions, a sufficient amount of outdoor air is advised to diluted indoor toxins and lessen the possibility of Covid in closed facilities (in line with ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2019). Controlling this type of ventilation is made easier by automated and real-time control of heating and cooling systems, which is where a simple and inexpensive solution might be useful. Mesa is a collection of sensors and networked gadgets that optimises HVAC systems and plug loads using real-time data and plug-and-play automation. With Mesa, facility managers can set their HVAC systems to open windows when it's time for fresh air based on the time of day and the occupancy of a space. Facility managers can set Mesa to allow heating and cooling systems to add additional fresh air as needed and utilise Mesa sensors to monitor the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).
Save money and energy. EnergyStar reported that K–12 schools use $6 billion worth of energy yearly. Furthermore, up to 30% of the energy used by a school system is wasteful or unnecessary. Although energy use varies from school to school, the graph below shows how electricity and natural gas are used in a typical school. Most energy is used for heating and cooling when they are used together. An Energy Star assessment claims that the energy used to heat, chill, and light classrooms, halls, computer laboratories, and school buildings costs more than textbooks, technology, and instructors' collective salaries.
Near-full occupancy in schools naturally results in an increase in energy requirements, but this does not mean that energy costs must skyrocket. Even after students have left for the day or on weekends, Mesa may regulate heating and cooling set points based on occupancy and minimise avoidable costs that would have previously resulted to excessive heating and cooling. When no one is present, Mesa may also turn off the plug loads that power classroom TVs and projectors, saving money that could easily increase monthly expenditures.
Avoid expensive equipment breakdowns. Not only may schools save money by avoiding costly repairs, but doing so also guarantees that the learning settings of the students are never disrupted. Mesa, fortunately, provides facility managers with real-time warnings that let them know when a system isn't operating properly, allowing them to identify possible problems before they become an issue. Mesa's remote notifications and performance reports also enable facility managers to investigate further in order to pinpoint the primary source of such anomalies without even having to be present. By doing this, schools can save spending thousands of dollars on labour and supplies.
Boost everyone's productivity. Because of human mistake, such as leaving windows open, or because HVAC systems don't react quickly enough to changes in the environment, classrooms can occasionally be too hot or chilly. According to a National Bureau of Economic Research analysis, kids are not able to learn as effectively in overheated classrooms as they would in cooler environments. The HVAC system can modify its setpoint and avoid overheating and overcooling of areas since Mesa makes it simple for students and employees to express directly whether they feel hot or chilly. Facility managers can employ sensors to monitor inside temperatures and humidity levels, as well as to determine whether windows have been accidentally left open. Unlike other non-automated systems that would make the area uncomfortable, facility managers can also employ external weather data sensors to plan for abnormally hot or cold days.
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