CO2 Monitoring in Schools and Universities

The importance of CO2 monitoring in schools and universities has become a priority in recent years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Educational institutions have realized that indoor air quality affects students' health and learning capacity and teachers' performance.

In this article, we explore the technical relevance of carbon dioxide monitoring, and present concrete solutions and practical benefits for educational environments.

 

Importance of Monitoring CO2 Levels

In educational spaces, students and teachers spend most of the day in enclosed classrooms. Insufficient ventilation leads to high concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), negatively impacting health and academic performance.

When CO2 levels exceed 1,000 ppm (parts per million), symptoms such as drowsiness, headaches, and difficulty concentrating arise, directly affecting school and professional performance.

Nowadays, it is well-known that environments with high CO2 levels negatively impact cognitive functions. This includes problem-solving abilities and decision-making tasks that are frequent in school and academic settings.

On the other hand, well-ventilated environments are associated with improved attention, productivity, and a lower incidence of respiratory illnesses.

Ensuring effective ventilation also helps to minimize the concentration of other pollutants and infectious agents in the air, reducing disease transmission.

 

Benefits of CO2 Monitoring in Schools and Universities

The improvements achieved through continuous CO2 monitoring in school and academic settings are tangible and provide compelling reasons to take action. Below are the key advantages:

• Respiratory health: Proper ventilation and strict control of CO2 levels reduce the concentration of pollutants and pathogens in the air, reducing disease transmission.
• Improved performance: Scientific research provides clear conclusions—maintaining appropriate carbon dioxide levels enhances students' concentration and cognitive ability.
• Reduced school absenteeism: With fewer respiratory issues and a healthier environment for students and teachers, school absenteeism is reduced.
• Energy efficiency: Monitoring CO2 levels in enclosed spaces is a crucial step in automating the control of environmental variables. This makes it easier to optimize ventilation systems and reduce energy costs.

 

 

Solutions to Consider

The effective implementation of a CO2 measurement system always depends on choosing the right solutions.

Wireless solutions such as DUOS inCO2 are particularly advantageous as they simplify installation, eliminate the need for constant manual recording, and provide a broad range of data analysis capabilities.

Real-time data recording is also essential for continuously monitoring and analyzing educational environments, allowing for quick intervention when necessary.

 

Essential Factors in Choosing a Monitoring System

Selecting monitoring sensors for variables that include CO2 measurement should take several key criteria into account. The most important ones include:

• Accuracy: NDIR sensors are often chosen for their high accuracy and low calibration frequency requirements.
• Installation and integration: Wireless systems facilitate implementation and integration with data analysis platforms and existing building management systems (BMS).
• Regulatory compliance: Sensors must comply with applicable standards and certifications in each country and institution, ensuring safety and reliability for school or academic use.

 

Practical Implementation

To ensure effectiveness, those responsible for implementing monitoring systems should follow best practices:

• Sensor placement: Sensors should be installed at the average breathing height, away from air currents or CO2 sources such as heating devices. It may also be necessary to position the sensors away from doors or windows to obtain more realistic measurements.
• Coverage of spaces: Larger environments or those with multiple zones or rooms may require more than one sensor to obtain representative measurements and avoid blind spots in monitoring. Therefore, it is essential that the system be scalable and provide centralized information.
• Data management: Integration with online platforms enables remote monitoring, automatic alerts, and faster, more informed decision-making. Systems with mobile access also facilitate quick data visualization and analysis.

 

 

Sensor Calibration and Maintenance

To ensure measurement reliability, it is essential to conduct periodic maintenance and calibration routines performed by specialized technical professionals.

This can also be a crucial factor in ensuring the long-term durability of the solutions, especially in environments subject to more challenging conditions.

 

Choose Tekon Electronics

Managing spaces such as schools and universities must always include the planning of a strategy for CO2 monitoring and control, not as an option, but as a requirement.

This is a fundamental necessity to ensure health, safety, and academic performance.

By selecting the right sensors and implementing them correctly, institutions will benefit immediately, both in the short and long term.

With DUOS inCO2 and the Tekon Electronics Universal IoT Gateway, schools and universities can become modern, healthy, and sustainable educational spaces.

You can count on Tekon Electronics to be your trusted technology partner.

 

Get in touch:

sales@tekonelectronics.com

+351 234 303 320

 

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