Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Ceiling Unit Uses UVC Light to Clean Classroom Air

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 08/12/20

A Florida company with an office in Purdue Research Park has introduced a technology it said would help schools reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Energy Harness has released a device that attaches to ceiling grids and uses UVC light to clean and circulate air. The Active Airflow UV-C Fixture unit has a fan system to draw in the air, where it is cleaned and then cycled back into the classroom.

The company said it hopes to have the technology installed and ready for the school year for Beech Grove City Schools and Franklin Township Community School Corporation, both located in central Indiana, near Indianapolis.

The team created the technology by applying its expertise in LED lighting and their familiarity with school clients. "We wanted to help because we know schools can be great at disinfecting surfaces and areas, but they may not have the same options to clean the air," said Patricio Daneri, managing director of Energy's Midwest division, in a press release.

"We have had success working with the Energy Harness team before and are excited about this new technology product to help keep our community safe," added Tom Gearhart, director of operations for the Beech Grove City Schools.

Daneri suggested that some schools may be able to use special federal and state funding during the pandemic to help cover the costs of the technology.

The research park is a Purdue University-affiliated operation (co-managed by the Purdue Research Foundation) with six locations that house 260 companies, including Energy Harness.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Children walking along bright school corridor with motion blur

    How Next-Gen Design Is Reshaping the Student Experience

    The environments where students learn play a crucial role in shaping their growth in and out of the classroom. By centering design on well-being, flexibility, and purpose, districts can ensure their facilities remain vibrant community assets for many years to come.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.

  • Image courtesy of Kahler Slater

    UW–Madison Announces Completion of Morgridge Hall

    The University of Wisconsin–Madison recently announced that construction is complete on Morgridge Hall, a new academic building, according to a news release. The facility opened September 3 at the start of the fall semester, consolidating the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences into a single facility for the first time.

  • FGCU Breaks Ground on New Health Sciences Building

    Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has launched construction on a major new academic facility that leaders say will reshape healthcare education in Southwest Florida for decades to come, according to university news.