Hanwha Group Provides Equipment Support for 'Creating Clean Schools' to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Support of Solar Power Generation Equipment and Window Ventilation Systems Worth 100 Million KRW to Five Elementary Schools Nationwide Including Goseoncho in Geoje

Kim Sin-yeon, President of Hanwha Social Volunteer Group (right), and Choi Yeol, Chairman of the Environmental Foundation (left), are holding air-purifying plants in front of a moss wall created on the wall with students from Suseong Elementary School in Cheongju. Photo by Hanwha Group

Hanwha Group announced on the 22nd that it has completed equipment support for five elementary schools nationwide selected for the 'Creating Clean Schools' program aimed at improving indoor air quality.

Hanwha Group is conducting the 'Creating Clean Schools' campaign. This campaign is a social contribution activity by Hanwha Group to improve indoor air quality by utilizing air purification devices such as window-type ventilation systems to create a school environment where elementary school students can breathe safely. Since last year, Hanwha Group has been carrying out the 'Creating Clean Schools' project in collaboration with the Environmental Foundation and the Community Chest of Korea.

Based on the results of the first year targeting the Seoul metropolitan area, the support scope was expanded nationwide this year. Five schools were selected: Guksan Elementary School in Geoje, Gyeongnam; Donam Elementary School in Daegu; Suseong Elementary School in Cheongju, Chungbuk; Heungdeok Elementary School in Yongin, Gyeonggi; and Shingwang Elementary School in Seoul. Equipment support was completed during the winter vacation period. In particular, the installation of both air showers and air clean mats was a measure to prevent the inflow of pollutants such as fine dust from outside, considering the characteristics of elementary school students who frequently go in and out of school buildings.

In the second year of the project, support equipment was expanded based on experts' opinions. Approximately 100 million KRW worth of equipment was provided to each selected school, including solar power generation facilities, window-type ventilation systems, air shower air purification devices, air clean mats, wall greening, and fine dust notification systems.

A commemorative ceremony was also held on the 21st at Suseong Elementary School in Cheongju. Attendees included Kim Sin-yeon, President of Hanwha Social Volunteer Corps; Choi Yeol, Chairman of the Environmental Foundation; and Kim Young-im, Principal of Suseong Elementary School, who toured the fine dust reduction equipment support site.

Teacher Kim Hye-won of Donam Elementary School in Daegu said, "The installation of air showers and air clean mats has greatly helped improve indoor air quality by safely removing dust attached to students' bodies and shoes," adding, "Students are excited about the newly changed school from the new semester in March and have developed a deeper interest in the environment."

In fact, on the 14th at Guksan Elementary School in Geoje, the operation of the window-type ventilation system showed that the carbon dioxide concentration before operation was 1294 ppm (parts per million), but after operation, it decreased by up to 66% to 441 ppm. Also, at Suseong Elementary School in Cheongju, the operation of the air shower air purification device resulted in a 23% reduction in fine dust (PM 10) and a 22% reduction in ultrafine dust (PM 2.5 or less) in just 10 minutes.

Professor Cho Young-min of Kyung Hee University’s Department of Environmental Engineering, who served as an advisor and judge for the Creating Clean Schools project, explained, "The window-type ventilation system, which can be relatively easily installed on windows, is equipped with filters that filter out external dust and supply clean air, while simultaneously lowering carbon dioxide concentration to provide a comfortable indoor environment for children." He added, "It is also expected to reduce airborne bacteria and malodorous substances present indoors."

In addition to equipment support, Hanwha Group plans to conduct environmental education introducing ways to learn about and actively respond to climate crisis and fine dust issues.