We interviewed HVAC maintenance specialists for several school districts about the system, and got a full tour of our school's facilities, showing us both hardware and software. Attached below are photos from the tour.
In order to effectively find a solution to the poor air quality in schools, we first researched the existing systems responsible for the ventilation in currently operating American schools. We found that HVAC systems are optimized to best utilize the components currently in use. This means that a small change in the filtration would likely lead to damage in the duct structure or increased toll on mechanical components. This directs our thoughts towards solutions that do not effect the variables dependent on the existing HVAC system.
Due to the conclusions we drew from the interview, we soon found UV filtration: a potential solution that met all the criteria we had set out for ourselves. We found that when cells are exposed to Ultra-Violet light, they are destroyed or damaged to the point where they can no longer reproduce. Since the light would not effect the static characteristics of the room, no changes to the existing HVAC system would be needed. This truth provides the foundation to our developmental stage, also accounting for the dangers of UV exposure. Due to such dangers, we would need to isolate the light from any inhabitants of the room being operated upon. This is the fulcrum upon which we balanced our plausible, efficient solution to this widespread and growing issue.