Federal grant money received through the CARES Act has been invested by EHOVE Career Center into a needlepoint bi-polar ionization system which acts as a defense against COVID-19 and other viruses, along with molds and bacteria.
A new air filtration system has officially been installed at all EHOVE Career Center's buildings. The cost of the equipment and installation was covered entirely by funds received through the federal CARES Act. The needlepoint ionization system uses patented technology to clean the air through a process that attaches ions to particles in the ventilation system, which increases the size of the particles making them easier to filter. The ions also interact with any pathogens, rendering them inactive. This two-fold system has been shown to be over 99 percent effective in killing pathogens within 30 minutes.
These types of systems have been used in hospitals for years, and EHOVE Career Center is one of the first educational institutions in Ohio to install the technology across all campus buildings. EHOVE Superintendent Chris McCully is excited about the addition of the ventilation system as another weapon in the arsenal to fight COVID-19. As McCully recently stated in a release from the school, "Our staff have been diligently cleaning and sanitizing campus every day. Adding this system to our enhanced procedures is yet another way to keep our students and staff as safe as possible."
The cost of the project was projected to be $239,859 but is expected to come in under budget. Savings were achieved through having EHOVE Career Center maintenance staff carry out the installation and by partnerships with local HVAC businesses who provided equipment and training. In addition to the health benefits, needlepoint ionization systems also help in odor control and provide additional savings as they use less energy than other ventilation systems.