Fresh Air Classrooms Boost Learning, Health and Well-being

 

At Panyaden, we are acutely aware that education is not simply about delivering a curriculum for students to absorb. It is about creating the best possible environment for their health, growth as well as learning. It is about the school as an institution setting an example for our students to learn from and use as the inspiration for future innovation.

Given the seasonal conditions of air pollution that Chiang Mai is faced with, which can be very risky for young people and be detrimental to their health in the long-term, Panyaden was keenly interested in finding long-term, sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions that met with the ethos of the school. The Panyaden Fresh Air System, specially designed for the needs of the school and in consideration of the local environment, uses less energy than air conditioners and air purifiers, ensures a consistent supply of fresh, oxygenated air, reduce CO2 levels in the classrooms and relies on underground pipes and air flow for lowering the temperature naturally.

We are pleased to be able to use this system to ensure a high quality of air to our classrooms. Exposure to natural air and light is not only beneficial to human health, but also increases learning ability and energy in students1 .

In 2016, researchers at Harvard and Syracuse University found that human cognitive function declined by about 15 percent when indoor CO₂ reached 945 parts per million, and crashed by 50 percent when indoor CO₂ reached 1,400 parts per million. Too high levels of carbon dioxide impair mental performance and causes health symptoms such as headaches, fatigue and nausea.2

Considering the number of hours and the large part of their life that our students will spend in the school, we consider it of monumental importance to offer them the best environment possible, while still maintaining our commitment to balance and sustainability within our natural environment.

You can find out more about how the Panyaden Fresh Air System works on this page.

 

 

 

1 ELearning Infographics (2017). The Importance of Daylight and Fresh Air in the Classroom Infographic. https://elearninginfographics.com/the-importance-of-daylight-and-fresh-air-in-the-classroom-infographic/  
2 Allen, Joseph G. et al (2015) Associations of Cognitive Function Scores with Carbon Dioxide, Ventilation, and Volatile Organic Compound Exposures in Office Workers: A Controlled Exposure Study of Green and Conventional Office Environments.”, https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.1510037