Indiana School Buses to Get UV Air Purification, Filtration Systems

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/04/21

This week, the Indiana State School Bus Committee approved the installation of ultraviolet light air purification systems on school buses statewide. The decision became final after the success of a trial program run in partnership with indoor air quality solutions provider Lumin-Air.

“This approval is very exciting for Indiana school districts and puts Indiana on par with other states who have already approved these technologies to help provide clean air in their school buses,” said Andrew Desmarais, Lumin-Air’s Chief Operating Officer. “Most importantly, Indiana schools can now implement a solution to help reduce the risk of transmission and better protect students, bus drivers and other school bus occupants against airborne respiratory pathogens like SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza.”

The system features enclosed MERV-13 filtration and UV lights, a more effective method of air cleansing than opening windows—especially in a densely populated environment like a bus. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued warnings about the dangers of inhaling exhaust and other outdoor pollutants like allergens.

The decision also comes ahead of the June 25 deadline for Indiana schools to submit proposals as to how they will portion out their Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding.

“If a school system spent a little over 1 percent of their ESSER funding on air quality in their school buses, they could have systems installed, including 12 years of replacement filters and UV bulbs, addressing the neediest portion of their facilities,” said Dan Fillenwarth, President of Lumin-Air. “This would be a huge step toward improving the health of students, teachers and bus drivers, and helping to protect schools from shutting down in the future.”

Lumin-Air has previously installed similar solutions in California, Florida, Maryland and Pennsylvania in both school and public buses.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Springfield Breaks Ground on $53.7M Pipkin Middle School Rebuild

    Construction is underway on a new, state-of-the-art Pipkin Middle School in Springfield, Mo., a major step in Springfield Public Schools’ (SPS) long-term facility improvement plan, according to local news. The $53.7-million project officially broke ground in early June, following years of planning and community input aimed at modernizing aging infrastructure and addressing student capacity concerns.

  • ECM Technologies Wins ‘Most Innovative Business of the Year’ Award

    HVAC preventative maintenance and efficiency solutions provider ECM Technologies was recently named the “Most Innovative Business of the Year” at the 2025 Champions of Change Awards, according to a news release. The program recognizes Arizona business leaders and organizations taking steps to make a positive impact on the state through innovative thinking and philanthropy.

  • Tufts University Breaks Ground on Two New Residence Halls

    Tufts University in Medford, Mass., recently broke ground on two new residence halls with a total capacity of 664 beds, according to local news. The project’s ultimate goal is to expand on-campus housing and reduce pressure on the local housing market.

  • Clemson to Launch North America’s Largest College Campus Smart Parking Program

    Clemson University in Clemson, S.C., recently announced a partnership with smart parking and curbside management solutions provider eleven-x to launch a smart parking initiative for its population of 29,000 students and faculty, according to a news release.

Digital Edition