Elementary Students Install HVAC Control System
Cyprus Classical Academy and 75F partner to transform STEM learning into a real-world project.
Jun 02, 2017, 10:57 ET
BURNSVILLE, Minn., June 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For many elementary schools, STEM programs consist of textbooks, online research and classroom experiments. For the students of Cyprus Classical Academy in Burnsville MN, STEM recently got real. On May 22, 8- and 9-year-old students installed the school's HVAC control system through a partnership with 75F, a local building automation company.
Cyprus teachers saw this installation as an opportunity to teach their students about the real-world applications of STEM, including the importance of energy efficiency and air quality. The renovation not only created a unique learning experience for the students — the new system could save Cyprus nearly 50% annually on their HVAC energy expenses.
Watch the students set up the system here.
While traditional control systems take years to get certified and master, 75F has created a solution that's as easy to set up as an iPhone. For the 8- and 9-year-old kids accustomed to playing with touch devices all day long, setting up the system was intuitive.
"Cyprus Classical Academy offers one of the most unique, advanced and rigorous learning environments in Minnesota," said Michelle Wallick, principal of Cyprus Schools. "Discovering and partnering with 75F was a fantastic fit for us – we are now able to solve a real challenge for our school building while giving our students a STEM experience they can't get anywhere else."
Like many older buildings in the Midwest, Cyprus Classical Academy's 13,500 sq. ft. location deals with hot and cold spots and rooms feeling stuffy. Based on classroom layouts, large windows, insulation and inefficient placement of thermostats, the school's HVAC expenses were very high and temperature comfort was difficult to maintain.
"Cyprus Classical Academy deals with a lot of HVAC issues that we see in many aging buildings here in the Midwest," said Deepinder Singh, CEO of 75F. "After some simple measurements, our team knew immediately that we could save the school thousands of dollars every year by installing smart HVAC controls, while improving air quality and comfort."
Cyprus students met with 75F technicians to discuss HVAC concepts and challenges. They analyzed the building and observed how the system was configured. For the students, one of the highlights was drilling holes in their classroom walls to install sensors and running up step ladders to install equipment in the ceiling.
After watching an instructional video, the students paired the sensors and control units together through the school Wi-Fi. They even hand drew a floor plan of the school and uploaded it to the 75F portal as a part of the commissioning process.
As of June 2, about 40% of the project is complete. Additional student-led installations are planned throughout the summer for the remaining classrooms. Cyprus students, Cyprus staff and 75F staff are available for media interview and comment related to this project.
Cyprus Schools contact:
Logan Wang, Director of Communications
651.260.4601
[email protected]
75F contact:
Kristen Johnson, Marketing Director
612.616.6272
[email protected]
About Cyprus:
Cyprus Schools (Cyprus Classical Academy, Montessori and School of Music and the Arts) are private school options offering the most unique and rigorous education environments in Minnesota. Built on the foundation of gifted/talented learning, ability-based class placement, 6:1 student teacher ratio, and classical education concepts (language, science, arts, music and critical thinking), Cyprus students learn real-world skills at an accelerated pace and test in the top 1% of students nationwide.
About 75F:
75F is a high-tech start-up disrupting the building automation industry by taking a fresh approach to HVAC, lighting and other controls in commercial buildings. Their mission is to save energy, while improving comfort and air quality. Instead of reacting to problems, the 75F system predicts needs and manages buildings accordingly. Beginning with temperature control, 75F was founded in 2012 and has delivered hundreds of energy-efficient spaces to enthusiastic customers who rave about the results. 75F is a proud member of the United Nations Environment Program- Sustainable Buildings Climate Initiative.
SOURCE 75F; Cyprus Classical Academy