How does indoor CO₂ Quietly press the slowdown button in the brain?

CO₂  is a colorless, odorless, and asphyxiating gas. Its indoor sources are primarily the combustion of carbonaceous fuels and human activities. When related activities such as cooking, heating, and lighting occur, CO₂ concentrations can reach elevated levels within a short period. An adult exhales approximately 22.6 liters of CO₂ per hour. In enclosed indoor environments without combustion devices, such as office buildings, hotels, shopping malls, gyms, and cinemas, human respiration is the main source of CO₂.

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According to the "Standards for Indoor Air Quality" (GB/T 18883-2022), indoor CO₂ concentration should not exceed 1000 ppm.

A research report from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health indicates that in enclosed indoor spaces, when the CO₂ concentration reaches 900 ppm, human cognitive performance decreases by 15%; when the CO₂ concentration reaches 1400 ppm, cognitive performance decreases by 50%.

In 2021, the Ministry of Health, the Building and Construction Authority, and the National Environment Agency of Singapore jointly stated that in enclosed indoor environments, a CO₂ concentration below 800 ppm constitutes good air quality.

1. The hazards of CO₂

Under poor ventilation conditions, indoor CO₂ concentration can increase significantly, potentially impacting human health, learning efficiency, and work performance. Excessive CO₂ concentrations can also cause respiratory acidosis, which may subsequently lead to hypertension in young adults. Individuals chronically exposed to high CO₂ concentrations may face an increased risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and their decision-making abilities and attention may also be affected.

Different durations of CO₂ exposure can also have adverse effects on the human body. Prolonged exposure to CO₂ can lead to neurological discomfort symptoms such as dizziness, headache, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings, which may affect individuals' work and quality of life.

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2. Real-world cases

Zs. Bakó Biró and colleagues tested the impact of indoor ventilation rates on students' learning ability in an elementary school. The results showed that after improving indoor air quality through enhanced ventilation, students' selective judgment, memory, and thinking abilities all improved.

In a controlled experiment conducted by Eindhoven University of Technology in collaboration with Philips, researchers placed two groups of creative workers in environments with different air quality:

Group A was in a space with CO₂ concentration controlled below 600 ppm and formaldehyde content below 0.02 mg/m³;

Group B was in a typical office environment, with a CO₂ concentration of 1200 ppm and a formaldehyde content of 0.08 mg/m³

The results showed that participants in Group A scored 47% higher on divergent thinking tests than those in Group B. Moreover, the innovative solution proposed by Group A was not only more numerous but also had significantly higher commercial feasibility.

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3. Singrass® Indoor Smart Eco System (ISES™)

In enclosed office buildings, hotels, shopping malls, or gyms, due to high occupant density, the CO₂ exhaled by people accumulates increasingly, ultimately resulting in severe pollution from high CO₂ concentrations.

If leafy vegetables are grown indoors, this can turn a hazard into a benefit, creating a win-win situation for both people and plants, transforming the indoor environment from "makeshift" to "sophisticated."

The SINGRASS® Indoor Smart Eco System (ISES™), with its "Six Zeros" ecosystem design, completely breaks the development constraints of traditional indoor agriculture—namely, "high energy consumption, high cost, and high loss":

1. Zero Site Rental:

Photo taken in Shenzhen, China

Cleverly utilizes corners and idle spaces within buildings, converting "useless land" into "green production workshops", achieving zero occupancy of land resources.

2. Zero Cooling Investment:

Innovatively integrates with existing central air conditioning systems, achieving synergistic energy utilization between systems while avoiding redundant energy consumption.

3. Zero carbon fertilizer input:

Turn high indoor CO₂ concentration from waste into a resource, using it as "natural fertilizer" for leafy vegetable photosynthesis, realizing efficient resource recycling.

4. Zero Distribution link:

Photo taken in Shenzhen, China

Establishes a closed-loop system from in-building cultivation to immediate consumption, completely eliminating carbon emissions from cold-chain transportation and significantly reducing the carbon footprint.

5. Zero nutrient loss:

Photo taken in Shenzhen, China

Adheres to the "harvest-then-eat" concept, maximizing the retention of complete nutritional value in leafy vegetables, making health and freshness "easily accessible" and allowing optimal dietary fiber to nourish the gut microbiota.

6. Zero pesticide use:

Photo taken in Shenzhen, China

Through a five-layer rigorous ecological barrier integrated with the central air conditioning system, it provides comprehensive protection against pest and disease invasion, ensuring the produce meets pollution-free standards.

Tests have shown that the SINGRASS® Indoor Smart Eco System (ISES™) can rapidly degrade CO₂ from 2200 ppm to below 800 ppm within 4 hours, achieving significant results.

According to a professional assessment by the authoritative organization TÜV SÜD, the carbon sequestration capacity of the SINGRASS® Indoor Smart Eco System (ISES™) is nearly four times that of traditional indoor vertical hydroponic farms.

Based on calculations from the TÜV SÜD report, the annual carbon absorption of one SINGRASS® Indoor Smart Eco System (ISES™) unit is equivalent to that of 120 large trees, effectively creating a sizable grove within an office, providing a practical and feasible pathway for enterprises to achieve their carbon neutrality goals.