Nghe An: Deploying the 'school lighting' program

(Baonghean.vn) - 'School lighting' is a meaningful lighting program that helps protect students' eyes and is receiving attention from the whole society.

Currently, schools have relatively low lighting intensity for teaching and learning, light only reaches between 90 - 200 (Lux), causing negative effects on students' eyesight; the rate of students with eye problems increases gradually with each grade level....

According to Decision 3733/2002/QD-BYT of the Ministry of Health, the National Standard for lighting in primary schools and classrooms is not less than 300 Lux. Thus, the majority of school classrooms have light intensity that does not meet the requirements compared to current regulations.

Implementing the energy saving and efficiency program for the period 2016-2020 of Nghe An province, Nghe An Energy Saving Center (Nghe An Department of Industry and Trade) conducted a preliminary survey of the current status of the lighting system at primary and secondary schools in Vinh city; at the same time, implementing a plan to install a pilot school lighting model for schools across the province. Schools are installed with classroom lighting systems to ensure uniform illumination, no fan glare; and the electrical system and switches are renovated reasonably to ensure aesthetics.

The lamp is hung about 2.15m from the work surface to ensure even illumination without fan glare. Photo: Lien Tran

Accordingly, the program has deployed a number of sample lighting models for primary schools in the province by not installing light bulbs directly on the ceiling but installing additional light troughs so that students and teachers cannot see the light bulbs, causing glare. The lights are hung about 2.15m from the work surface to ensure even illumination, no fan glare, and the electrical system and switches are renovated reasonably to ensure aesthetics.

After a period of implementation, the solution of lowering the height of the hanging lights has helped reduce the number of lights compared to hanging close to the ceiling by 2-3 bulbs/classroom. The illuminance in the classrooms reaches 300 - 350 (lux), the light in each classroom increases 3.5 times. In addition, it also helps save 10% of electricity compared to conventional fluorescent bulbs. The steel lamp holder is electrostatically painted to create a reflective surface, distribute light reasonably, and increase the useful illuminance on the desk surface by about 30%.

In addition, the light bulb also uses an electronic ballast to prevent the light from flickering, providing even light, helping students not to get tired eyes, while meeting the goal of using energy economically and efficiently, reducing the amount of electricity consumed in each classroom by 40-50% compared to the old lighting system.

The solution of lowering the height of the hanging lights has helped reduce the number of lights compared to hanging close to the ceiling, from 2-3 lights/classroom. Photo: Lien Tran

Up to now, Nghe An Energy Conservation Center has completed school lighting for nearly 50 classrooms at primary schools across the province, such as Ky Son Primary School, Nam Kim Primary School, Don Phuc Primary School, Hecman Primary School, etc.

In particular, at Don Phuc Primary School, Con Cuong District, Nghe An Province, each classroom previously used 8 incandescent bulbs with a capacity of 40W for lighting. After participating in the school lighting program, the Center replaced them with 10 reasonably arranged bulbs. With the new lighting system, each classroom saved 27% of electricity consumption, the illuminance increased 5 times, ensuring both lighting and saving electricity.

Initially, the program has brought high efficiency in saving electricity, improving the quality of classrooms, and has been implemented by many schools.

Thanh Lien