Seocho-gu Manages and Publishes Air Quality Data Every Minute for Elderly Care Facilities and Daycare Centers

Supplementing Limitations of Indoor Air Quality Management Act, 'Green Seocho Project' Launched Since May Last Year for Indoor Air Quality Verification and Certification through Collaboration with Expert Groups Including KAIST

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seocho-gu (Mayor Eunhee Jo) is comprehensively improving and managing the indoor air quality of facilities used by environmentally vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children, who are in blind spots amid the era of climate crisis.

The background for the district's focus on indoor air quality management is that interest in indoor air quality has been increasing as indoor activities have risen due to COVID-19, but information on air quality, pollutants, ventilation, and disinfection in multi-use facilities is still insufficient.

Also, the 'Indoor Air Quality Management Act' applies only to facilities above a certain size, leaving multi-use facilities in blind spots urgently needing support.

Since regulated facilities are only required to conduct self-measurements once a year, it was recognized that detailed and strict clean safety standards for indoor spaces are necessary.

To this end, the district has been promoting the 'Green Seocho Project' since last year.

It has been specially managing the air quality of 239 multi-use facilities such as senior centers and libraries, and this year, the management target facilities have been expanded to include all elderly care facilities and daycare centers used by environmentally vulnerable groups with weakened immunity and respiratory systems.

For elderly medical welfare facilities such as nursing homes and day care centers, as well as all daycare centers, air quality elements including fine dust, carbon dioxide, and volatile organic compounds are measured continuously every minute.

Furthermore, hygiene factors such as airborne bacteria, formaldehyde, and mold are also measured, and regular disinfection is conducted so that the elderly and children can use the spaces with peace of mind.

Based on big data of indoor air quality monitored continuously for more than three months, the project’s core is to award the 'Seocho Green Safe Zone' certification mark to facilities that manage indoor air quality excellently and to operate them meticulously on an ongoing basis.

In May last year, the district created indoor air quality certification standards through collaboration with environmental expert groups such as the KAIST Sustainability Center and K-Weather to promote the 'Green Seocho Project.'

The air quality of 239 facilities where many residents gather, including public facilities such as libraries and cultural sports facilities, as well as facilities used by children and the disabled, is measured every minute daily and disclosed and managed through web and app platforms.

Also, when indoor air quality measuring devices installed in each facility measure air quality in real time, AI ventilation purifiers connected via IoT (Internet of Things) automatically adjust the indoor air quality to an optimal state according to changes. Facility managers can monitor air quality status continuously through the measuring devices while managing the facilities.

The average data values are evaluated monthly, and continuous and stringent certification management is promoted rather than one-time assessments. Facilities that fall short of certification standards receive monthly recommendations and management guidance, and those receiving more than three recommendations are excluded from certification, encouraging facility managers to continuously strive for air quality management.

The 'Seocho Green Safe Zone' can be checked through the Seocho Smart City app and web, providing a one-stop service that allows users to check both outdoor and indoor air quality at once. By providing information, users can respond proactively, and communication and cooperation with residents will be maintained through targeted promotions and social media.

Meanwhile, the district will also install a 'window-type ventilation system' in the first half of this year. The 'window-type ventilation system' is equipped with a fine dust filter, enabling automatic ventilation without opening windows, and it removes pollutants such as CO2 that are difficult to purify with air purifiers.

At the entrance of daycare centers, a 'fine dust suction air mat' is installed to absorb soil and fine dust from shoes upon entry, allowing children to play freely without worrying about fine dust and providing a safe indoor environment.

Separately, the district plans to allocate its own budget to select households of economically vulnerable groups within fine dust safe zones, including pregnant women, mobility-impaired individuals, and families with multiple children who are vulnerable to fine dust, and support the installation of window-type ventilation systems.

Seocho-gu Mayor Eunhee Jo said, “Indoor air quality management has become an indispensable factor in improving residents’ quality of life in the post-COVID era,” and added, “We will continue to expand the 'Seocho Green Safe Zone' to create spaces that anyone can use healthily.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.