Fresh air increases student performance

Imagine that our children could reduce the amount of time they spend in school by 1 year with the help of a better indoor climate

Our children spend most of their day in a classroom where learning is the primary focus. As the Harvard Schools for Health article highlights, “school is the place where children spend most of their time outside the home”.1 Because of this, it is vital that classrooms provide optimal conditions for sustained concentration and environmental attributes that engenders the ability to acquire new knowledge.

Many classrooms in the U.S. hinder learning due to various factors such as high noise levels from fans, overheated rooms, and inadequate ventilation, leaving students with stuffy and unhealthy air. Research suggests that low ventilation rates in U.S. schools have adverse health effects, which are detrimental to educational outcomes and performance of more than 50 million school children.2 A poor indoor climate can result in 15% reduced performance, which is similar to one extra year seen over a child’s entire educational period. As concluded by several studies, the potential benefits associated with natural- and hybrid ventilation are numerous and the advantages are related to health as well as performance:

Natural ventilation in schools

· Reducing indoor temperature from 77°F to 68°F increased student performance by 18% (numerical and language based tasks).3

· Doubling the ventilation rates from 11 to 20.3 cfm increased student speed by 15% (numerical tasks).4

· Per 1000 ppm increase between the indoor and outdoor CO2 concentration, correlated with a 10-20% relative increase in student absence.5

· Students in classrooms with the largest window areas were 15% faster in math and 23% in reading than those with the least.6

· Students in classrooms where windows could be opened were found to progress 7-8% faster than those with fixed windows. (This occurred regardless of whether the classroom also had air conditioning or not)6

· 3.2% reduced absenteeism for building with operable windows and natural ventilation as opposed to sealed building with air conditioning7

· 65% reduction in Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms by utilizing natural or mixed mode ventilation8

Indoor temperature

Per 1000 ppm CO2 concentration increase

10-20% increase in student absence

Large window areas = 15% faster in math and 23% in reading

65% reduction in Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms

With open windows students progressed 7-8% faster

3.2% reduced absenteeism for building with operable windows and natural ventilation

Increased student performance by 18%

Increased student speed by 15%

Potential benefits associated with natural- and hybrid ventilation

Dizziness

Concentration problems

Fatigue

Headache

Throat irritation

Nasal congestion

Nasal irritation

Eye irritation

0 10 20 30 40

Natural ventilation Mechanical ventilation

Prevalence [%]

Prevalence in symptoms in the schools depending on the type of ventilation

Lower your cost with natural ventilation Stieger et. al. (2017) found that a mechanical ventilation system was four times as expensive as a natural ventilation system on the capital expenditure (products and installation).9

At WindowMaster, we are a proud member of CHPS and we have achieved an UL approved product portfolio.

The continued demand for energy efficiency and the increased focus on indoor air quality (IAQ) have driven the need for more natural and hybrid ventilation solutions to meet the latest guidance and regulations in the US. These solutions have been well-established for many years in Europe and are now available in the U.S in the form of automatic window control systems. WindowMaster International A/S has tried and tested solutions to provide natural ventilation including MotorLink® technology to create facade automation along with the NV Advance® and NV Comfort® control systems. Together with control algorithms, this provides the ultimate control over the indoor climate and delivers an almost silent operation of the window actuators.

Multiple schools and learning facilities have already reaped the benefits of natural and hybrid ventilation.

Meet the green standards with natural ventilation

1. http://schools.forhealth.org 2. U.S. Department of Education 2002b 3. The effects of moderately raised classroom temperatures and classroom

ventilations rate on the performance of schoolwork by children. Wargocki, Pawel and Wyon, David P. March 2007, HVAC&R research, Vol. 13.

4. The effect of outdoor air supply rate and supply air filters condition in classroom on the performance of schoolwork by children. Wargocki, Pawel and Wyon, David P. March 2007, HVAC&R research, Vol. 2., page 165-191.

5. Associations between classroom CO2 concentration and student attendance in Washington and Idaho. Shedell, C. G., et at. 2004, Indoor Air, Vol. 14, pp 333-341.

6. Heschong Mahone Group (Aug. 1999). Daylighting in Schools, An Investigation Daylighting and Human Performance, Detailed Report. Fair Oaks, CA.

7. The Impact of Different Ventilation Levels and Fluorescent Lighting Types on Building Illness: An Experimental Study (Sterling, E & Sterling T., Canadian J. Public Health, Vol. 74, Nov./Dec. 1983).

8. The World Green Building Council (GBC), 2015. Report on Health, Wellbeing & Productivity in Offices

9. Steiger. S and Roth. J Hybrid ventilation in new and refurbished school buildings – the future of ventilation. The AIVC-TIGHVENT Conference, 2017:49-60.

· Position control and feedback· Three-speed operation· Reversing function· Genuine synchronization· Online parameter set-up

MotorLink® is simply the smart way to make any facade intelligent

MotorLink® The standard for BMS systems and window actuators interfacing

MotorLink® is a state-of-the-art digital data communication technology. It provides accurate control and functionality of the automatic window actuators and natural ventilation, and connects with any BMS / BAS that your school facility would use.Two-way communication between the MotorLink® window actuators and the MotorLink® Controller enables the BMS to accurately position the windows which eliminates unnecessary heat loss and therefore reduces cost. Control of the exact window position will also help prevent draft issues, and reduce the time spend on manually opening / closing the windows.By using MotorLink® actuator communication, safety is improved by preventing situations of entrapment and injury

of body parts stuck in the window openings. MotorLink® includes 3 different control speeds, which the first one is for automatic control, second it for manual control and third is for emergencies. In automatic mode, the actuators will open and close in a slow speed which reduces noise and prevents disturbance during school lessons. MotorLink® integrates with open bus communication standards, such as KNX, BACnet, LON, and Modbus. The versatile range and functionality of the MotorLink® technology also means that BMS suppliers and facade companies can deliver robust, flexible control solutions tailored to specific project requirements in relation to the climate, pollution, noise, etc.

San Diego Continuing Education Mesa College CampusThis $22.5-million school project consolidates programs such as English as a second language and disability support into a bright and airy two-story learning center of 37,700 sq. ft. (3500 m2). Project engineers have incorporated sustainable features such as natural ventilation and natural lighting to reduce the building’s energy use by 43% compared with state requirements.it was awarded a LEED Silver certification by the USGBC.

The natural ventilation occurs via high-level automated façade windows in the classroom. In the back of each classroom, there are high-level automated vents, which can lead the air into the common areas (hallway) where the air is ventilated out through the high-level automated windows in the clerestory.

Each teacher controls the classroom temperature through a single switch on the wall that offers the choice between natural and mechanical cooling. When the temperature falls within the comfort zone (as it does the majority of the year),

Platinum Gold Silver

Facts

Building Owner : San Diego Community College District (SDCCD)

Architect : SGPA Architecture & Planning

Engineer : MA Engineers

Construction : PCL Construction*Manager

System : MotorLink® communication technology and window actuators

The environment in San Diego lends itself to using as much natural ventilation as possible. We have found that natural ventilation improves workers’ mood, productivity, and just overall attitude towards work in general. To that end, we try to provide natural ventilation on every facility we design. The use of automatic operable windows has revolutionized our ability to provide natural ventilation for our clients. The automatic operable windows allow the building to ‘think’ for itself and allow them to open when the exterior environment is perfect for natural ventilation. We found in previous designs that manual operable windows were almost never used. Using the automatic operable windows ensures that the building and its occupants receive all the benefits from natural ventilation.”

Dan Grammier, PE, LEED AP | Principal | MA ENGINEERS

“the natural ventilation system disengages the mechanical air conditioning and automatically opens the windows.

In the design discovery process, teachers told that they love to open the windows and doors. This building encourages that behavior, so it is expected that the teachers will choose natural ventilation most of the time.

WindowMaster was selected to supply the more than 100 motors for the natural ventilation solution for its MotorLink® technology. MotorLink® is a digital data communication technology designed to provide improved control and functionality where automated windows and natural ventilation are part of a building management system.

University of San Francisco John Lo SchiavoThe University of San Francisco (USF) needed to replace its cramped 1966 Harney Hall, built when science enrollments were just half of today’s levels. Construction of a new state-of-the-art science building (S.J. Center for Science and Innovation) located in the center of the USF main campus, immediately adjacent to two existing buildings. It includes a mix of 17 chemistry wet-labs with fume hoods, physics labs, lecture halls, computer labs, and community spaces. The 61,610 sq. ft.building had a budget of $43M and was awarded LEED Gold.

A green feature of the mostly glass building are the climate-controlled windows, which open or close depending on the temperature and have features to prevent reflectivity and use ambient heat to help control temperature. In line with the campus’ wind patterns, the building is designed to accommodate natural ventilation. Piping systems embedded in the concrete run water hot and cold, which helps control the building’s temperature.*

* Source: http://issuu.com/nbbj/docs/usf-case-study

Platinum Gold Silver

Facts

Building Owner : University of San Francisco

Architect : NBBJ

Contractor : Cahill

System : MotorLink® Technology with actuators

Qualcomm Campus Building AY & Building AZ, San DiegoQualcomm’s Pacific Center Campus consists of Building AY, an approximately 357,000-sq-ft, six-story office/laboratory facility and Building AZ, an approximately 67,000-sq-ft, two-story multi-use facility that includes a learning/conference center, kitchen/café, a health/fitness center and a theatre. The buildings are being designed to achieve LEED gold certification.

Sustainable features include an architectural bioswale designed to remove silt and pollution from surface runoff water in the interior courtyard, natural daylighting and a state-of-the-art façade that controls heat and glare. It is also one of the largest naturally ventilated buildings in the country. These high-performance features create a high-quality work environment.

WindowMaster has supplied almost 1000 actuators for two buildings at the Qualcomm Pacific Centre in San Diego, USA.

The buildings are designed to optimize passive design strategies to achieve high-performance results and provide a high-quality interior workplace environment to boost employee productivity. The buildings’ east/west solar orientation and narrow floor plates promote natural ventilation and daylighting, and a high-performance façade design controls heat gain and glare.

Photographer: Chad McDonaldSource: www.flickr.com

Platinum Gold Silver

Facts

Building Owner : Qualcomm Inc.

Architect : Berkebile Nelson Immenschuh McDowell Architects

Contractor : Coffman Engineers

System : MotorLink® Technology with actuators

WindowMaster aspires to protect people and the environment by creating a healthy and safe indoor climate, automatically ventilating spaces with fresh air through facade and roof windows in buildings. We offer the construction industry foresighted, flexible and intelligent window actuators and control systems for natural ventilation and mixed mode ventilation – of the highest quality.

WindowMaster employs highly experienced cleantech specialists in Denmark, Norway, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Switzerland, and the United States of America. In addition, we work with a vast network of certified partners. With our extensive expertise built up since 1990, WindowMaster is ready to help the construction industry meet its green obligations and achieve their architectural and technical ambitions.

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