75F Launches Epidemic Mode to Make Offices and Businesses Healthier During Pandemic

As offices prepare to reopen across India, buildings are the new front in the fight against COVID-19. Today, 75F announced 75F Epidemic Mode, a new HVAC software sequence that ensure commercial buildings healthier while keeping employees and customers safe. The system is based on the latest guidance from scientists, government organizations, and global industry leaders such as ISHRAE which has been adopted by the Indian Government, ASHRAE and the CDC. 

Recent studies show the spread of COVID-19 appears to be occurring through airborne transmission of aerosols, particles 1-5 microns in size which cannot be reliably filtered out using a MERV-13 or HEPA filter. While much of the focus is on droplets 100-1000 microns in size produced by coughing or sneezing, a large quantity of aerosolized infectious particles are also produced, and are more likely to be produced by asymptomatic individuals or those who do not know they are infected simply from breathing or speaking. A recent study showed that more than 1000 of these virus-containing aerosols are emitted every minute of speaking, more proof that without dilution ventilation from outside air, buildings have ahigh risk of viral build-up and exposure. 

In response to this, various organisations such as ISHRAE (Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers), ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers) and the CDC (Centre for Disease Control) have released new guidelines for the operation and control of HVAC systems to reduce disease transmission from infectious airborne particles and ensure a safe and healthy workplace. 

Epidemic Mode is updated by 75F as guidelines from these organisations evolve or new data emerges. This means it offers the most current sequences that minimize operating expense and viral transmission, while improving indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy efficiency.

Key guidelines from above recommended organisations include increasing outside air ventilation to reduce the viral load inside buildings, disabling demand-control ventilation (DCV) and increasing minimum outside air damper positions for greater outside air ratio. 

These key guidelines are available out-of-the-box when you utilize 75F’s full-stack suite of sensors and controls. The 75F Epidemic Mode does not require any manual programming and there is no risk of equipment damage from running the system outside typical parameters. The 75F Epidemic Mode achieves the directives discussed above through its specific application profiles; Smart PurgeTM and Smart Enhance Ventilation.

75F Smart Purge 

75F’s Smart Purge application profile works in pre- and post-occupancy settings and fully adheres to ISHRAE, ASHRAE recommendations to prevent re-circulation of air and to purge the air before and after occupancy. The pre-purge activates three hours ahead of expected occupancy and runs for two hours, allowing up to one hour of preconditioning before building occupants arrive for optimal comfort. Post-purge activates when the scheduled occupied period ends and runs for two hours. Overnight between these indoor air flushes, the system will keep the building at setback temperatures with minimal outside air to conserve energy and ensure relative humidity levels are maintained.

75F Smart Enhanced Ventilation 

This profile ensures the indoor environment remains as safe as possible during a building’s occupied period and reduces risk of infection from aerosolized particle. The 75F system only activates this profile during a scheduled occupied timeframe per ISHRAE directives. When the building is occupied, the OA damper is moved to the maximum position allowable based on the system’s ability to meet desired temperatures. This ensures the greatest amount of outside air is drawn in for dilution ventilation based on the system capacity and weather conditions. 

Apart from minimizing viral loads in buildings the 75F Epidemic ModeTm also delivers significant energy savings. Increasing ventilation from 20% outside air to 90% outside air can normally lead to a high energy bill, but with the 75F Epidemic Mode profiles, concentration of infectious airborne particles is reduced while energy consumption is minimized. 

 

“The world is in the midst of a pandemic with so many unknowns, where the brightest minds are developing innovative ways to modify their businesses and 75F Epidemic Mode does that for the commercial building industry,” said Deepinder Singh, CEO and Founder of 75F. 

“Being able to give companies and their employees some peace of mind that their facilities managers are taking the initiative to make their environments safe and healthy is extremely important and we believe will become the norm even when the outbreak is over”, adds Gaurav Burman, APAC President of 75F.

 

75F offers the only system on the market today currently implementing these healthy buildings measures, which are available free of charge to all customers in office buildings, retail businesses, schools, restaurants, and apartment buildings. Once the pandemic is controlled, 75F technology will allow facility managers to easily, and remotely, disable these measures, with a return to 75F's award-winning algorithms to improve the comfort of occupants. 

 

Other systems require manual programming for each sequence, which involves significant expense, and puts the equipment at greater risk of damage. For new customers, 75F has a fully automated, easy-to-install system out–of–the box, with controls that scale from simple rooftop units (RTUs) to complex air handling units (AHUs). 75F’s wireless install also eliminates the need for tearing up ducts for wiring, and offers integration with the 75F Facilisight portal and app for portfolio-wide analytics, easy scheduling, remote configuration, fault detection, and diagnostics.

The Ultimate SUV - All New CRETA Leads the Way in Unlocked India

Over 30 000 Bookings

* All New CRETA Tops Sales Charts to become India’s Best-selling car in May

* Most admired & sought after brand recording over 258 million media impressions (since March 2020) and over 19.5 million TVC views

* Most enquired and searched car on Hyundai ‘Click to Buy’

* Diesel models constitute 55 % of bookings, indicating strong customer sentiment for Hyundai’s advanced BS6 Diesel technology

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), country’s First Smart Mobility Solutions provider and the largest exporter since inception, has re-established its supremacy in the SUV segment with All New CRETA clocking over 30 000 bookings since launch and topping sales charts in May to lead the Indian market in Unlock 1.0. 

Commenting on the achievement Mr. Tarun Garg, Director (Sales, Marketing and Service), Hyundai Motor India Ltd., said, “All New CRETA has introduced many Industry firsts, becoming an instant hit among customers at launch. Unlocking this achievement of 30 000 bookings despite such challenging conditions, stands testament to All New CRETA’s popularity and exclusive appeal. We are confident All New CRETA will continue to drive customer delight and lead the way back towards normalcy in Automobile sales, with its immense success.”

A bestseller in its segment, All New CRETA has consistently been the preferred SUV in India, with customers opting for most admired features such as Voice Enabled Smart Panoramic Sunroof, Drive Mode Select, Traction Control Modes, Bose Premium Sound System (8 Speakers), Auto Healthy Air Purifier with Digital Display and Paddle Shifters. Further, All New CRETA offers a thrilling drive, powered by Hyundai’s new 1.4 l Kappa Turbo GDi (BS6) Petrol engine with 7DCT (Dual Clutch Transmission) gaining immense popularity among buyers. All New CRETA also offers customers complete peace of mind with WONDER Warranty Options - 3 Years/unlimited kms or 4 years/60 000 kms or 5 years/50 000 kms.

The marketing campaign for All New CRETA linked elements of nature with the car USPs. This positioning of The Ultimate SUV resonated strongly across markets. Additionally, All New CRETA has garnered over 258 million media impressions (since March 2020) and over 19.5 million TVC views. Through a full funnel approach, it delivered great conversions across markets.

All New CRETA is the embodiment of Hyundai’s Global Design language – ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ that has captivated the minds and hearts of customers in India. Internal studies have indicated that customers perceive All New CRETA as Futuristic, with a design that will remain contemporary in the times to come.  Diesel powered models constitute 55 % of bookings, indicating strong demand for Hyundai’s proven and advanced Diesel BS6 technology. All New CRETA is also the most researched model on India’s First and Most Comprehensive end-to-end Car Buying Platform ‘Click to Buy’.

Discovery & Discovery Plus to Showcase ‘Listen to the Sea’, A Moving Documentary about Odisha's Tryst with Cyclone Fani on June 20

Discovery’s new show ‘Listen To The Sea’, sheds light on one of the country’s greatest calamities, Cyclone Fani, taking a deep dive into critical 48 hours before the landfall of extremely severe cyclonic storm which threatened widespread damage to life and property in the state of Odisha. While the property, especially critical infrastructure like power, telecom, roads – both national highways, state highways and rural - were severely damaged, Indian’s meteorological department’s (IMD) pinpoint accuracy in predicting the time, path and severity of the cyclone, helped immensely in saving lives.  The government activated the disaster management program, leveraging the 48-hour notice by IMD, and evacuated more than 1 million people to safety.   ‘Listen to The Sea’ is a story of hope as Odisha triumphed over this sever cyclone through its gallant efforts.

“We cannot control natural disasters and catastrophes but after the devastation caused by super cyclone in 1999, our aim was to make sure that as much as possible, no human life should be lost henceforth in such disasters. In a state which has almost 500 kilometers of coastline, one should listen to the sea,” said, Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha. “Cyclone Fani was a test of our preparedness. I would like to take this moment to highlight the efforts of all those who stepped in - over 45,000 volunteers who worked alongside the government officials to help in the evacuation process.  It is due to this combined effort that Odisha successfully conducted Asia’s largest evacuation before Cyclone Fani by getting more than a million people to safety.”

Megha Tata, Managing Director – South Asia, Discovery, said, “This is not a documentary about a cyclone that threatened to ravage a state. It is a story of human will and what it can do in the face of abject disaster. LISTEN TO THE SEA is a story of Odisha’s resilience.”

Tune in to LISTEN TO THE SEA, which launches on 20th June on Discovery & Discovery HD Channel at 9 pm. Viewers can download Discovery Plus app to stream the show on June 23.

63% of Enterprise Professionals think their Employers will be Better off 1 Year from Now: LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index

LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, today announced the findings of the fifth edition of the LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index, a fortnightly pulse on the confidence of India’s workforce. Based on survey responses of 2,903 professionals in India, findings from the fortnight of May 4 - 31 reveal how executives with different professional backgrounds exhibit varied levels of confidence towards company outlook, personal finances, and remote working.

This fortnight’s LinkedIn Workforce Confidence Index shows that while India’s overall confidence remains steady with a composite score of +49, the country’s confidence in jobs is beginning to trend downward. The report also states that professionals from healthcare, manufacturing and corporate service industries are more likely to anticipate a decrease in personal spending and personal investments in the next 6 months.

Findings of this fortnight also bisect India’s composite workforce confidence score into Individual Confidence Index (ICI) and Confidence in Employer Index (CIE). The Individual Confidence Index indicates how professionals feel about their ability to leverage economic opportunities available to them, and the Confidence In Employer Index points to how professionals feel about the future of their employers. This new addition comes at a time when India is beginning to ‘unlock’ and reboot its business landscape.

Here are this fortnight’s key findings:

* Enterprise professionals most confident about the future of their employers: 

With a CIE score of +24, employees at large enterprises - companies with 10,000+ workers - are more confident about the future of their employers when compared to their peers from mid-market (+15) and SMB (+16) companies. Reaffirming this optimism, findings further show that 41% of enterprise professionals think their companies will do better in the next 6 months, while 63% think their companies will be better off one year from now. However, this confidence of professionals from larger enterprises fades when it comes to individual confidence, as ICI scores show that enterprise professionals (+42) are least confident about the future of their jobs, finances and careers, when compared to their SMB (+51) and mid-market (+50) peers.

* Healthcare, Manufacturing & Corporate Service industries least optimistic about personal finances: With India’s continued focus on social distancing, people are expected to control their discretionary spending, despite improved access to resources. Findings reaffirm this trend as 2 in 5 employees in manufacturing (38%), corporate services (40%) and healthcare (45%) will decrease personal spending in the next 6 months. Findings also show that 52% of healthcare, 48% of corporate services, and 41% of manufacturing professionals anticipate a decrease in investments in the next 6 months. 

* 40% of the Indian workforce anticipates fewer jobs and interviews in the immediate future: As the Indian workforce navigates a shrinking job market, 2 in 5 (40%) professionals believe that the number of jobs and scheduled interviews will decrease in the next two weeks. The news comes as bittersweet for Indian professionals, as more than 1 in 3  Indian professionals state that they will now spend more time working on their resumes and preparing for interviews. Findings also show India’s consistent focus on upskilling as 67% of the Indian workforce state that they will continue to increase time spent online learning.

* Marketing, Project Management, and Engineering professionals confident about the effectiveness of remote working: Over the past three months, many organizations have shifted to a remote working model to circumvent the pandemic and ensure business continuity. This fortnight’s findings show that 3 in 5 (61%) Marketing professionals feel confident about being effective when working remotely. They are joined by more than half of Project Management (56%) and Engineering (54%) professionals, who are also confident about  the effectiveness of remote working. In contrast to this optimism, only 39% of HR, 36% of finance, and 31% of education professionals think they would be effective when working remotely.

AESL Launches “Long-Term Courses through Aakash PrimeClass” for Students from Class VIII to XII and XII Pass

Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL), the national leader in test preparation services, has launched “long-term courses for students” from Class VIII to Class XII and XII Pass through Aakash PrimeClass, a one-of-its kind Extended Classroom course delivered through New Age Satellite Technology. While one to two year Foundation courses will be offered for students from Class VIII to Class X, courses will also be conducted for one and two years for students from Class XI and XII and XII Pass who wish to become doctors and IITians.

Students can log in at www.primeclass.aakash.ac.in for more information.  Specific information on courses for JEE and NEET aspirants can also be seen at https://www.aakash.ac.in/prime-course-jee/and https://www.aakash.ac.in/prime-course-neet/

Giving prime importance to the safety of the students during this unprecedented time, sessions will be live streamed to the student’s home through YouTube. Aakash PrimeClass is a two-way interactive medium that will enable students preparing for Olympiads, JEE and NEET to study in a classroom environment while being in the safety of their home interacting with the Faculty@Aakash based in Delhi live on screen.

The program aims to impart an integrated learning experience to aspirants who are preparing for ‘Boards’ and competitive exams. The classes are delivered through a unique AV setup using a high-definition projection system and high-resolution classroom camera. AESL faculties also use smart assessment system, audio-video facilities, smart attendance system etc. to see, hear and talk to the students. They can see, listen and participate in a lecture while interact and raise queries to the faculty spontaneously as in a regular classroom set up.

Commenting on the launch of the long-term courses, Mr Aakash Chaudhry, Director and CEO of AESL, said, “During this challenging time, we want to ensure full cooperation to students preparing for JEE and NEET exams as well as Olympiads, irrespective of the geographical location. At Aakash PrimeClass, Innovative learning experience coupled with continuous testing and analysis will give students better insights and exposure to improve their academic performances. Our sessions will be interactive, allowing students to clear doubts, ask questions and be able to address their queries and concerns. We hope that students and educators will take advantage of this unique initiative.”

The Aakash PrimeClass courses will be delivered through the national network of AESL. The centres are VSAT-enabled and with the help of state-of-the-art studios & telecommunication facilities, they will channelize audio, video and data-enabled high-quality, faculty lectures to students.

Advantages of Aakash PrimeClass

* Aakash faculty is among the best in the country and have produced stellar results year-after-year

* The study material provided by AESL is acknowledged as the best among peers & is highly sought-after by discerning aspirants

* Web-based Text and Multimedia lessons are used to set the pace for upcoming topics along with PLA (Pre learning assessment)

* In-Class exercises are conducted to assess the learning of in-class teaching. It also enables Learning-Gap Analysis and Corrective action by student & faculty

* Post Class Assignments are provided for recall, revision as well as higher-order preparation

* A dedicated team is set up to resolve the doubts of students

* Planners are provided to inform and make visible class schedule, tests, and assignments

* All sessions conducted are recorded and are available in the students’ id which can be used for later review. Parents can also have a look at all the sessions

* Online review sessions are conducted to jointly review performance and plan accelerative or corrective steps

* Academic Help Desk for Query record and query tracking

* E-mail/SMS alerts are shared on events, changes, scores, assignment completion/ Incompletion, to parents and faculty

With Aakash PrimeClass available in their hometown, students from small towns will no longer need to shift to a bigger city for their preparation. They will get tutelage of the most experienced faculties of Delhi. Best in class content, tests, 24x7 doubt resolution and video archives will also be available. Plus it takes away the worries of parents about their child’s health, safety and security. 

Whistling Woods International Announced Dates for the Fourth Round of Online Entrance Exams for 2020 Intake

Whistling Woods International (WWI), Asia’s premier Film, Communication and Creative Arts institute, has announced the dates for the fourth round of entrance examinations for its 2020 intake. The registration for the entrance exam for WWI’s full-time degree and diploma programmes will close by June 22, 2020, while the online exam procedures is scheduled for June 25th and 26th, 2020, respectively.

The classes are slated to start from the month of August, 2020.

WWI offers degree and diploma programmes accredited by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Asia's oldest institute for professional social work education. The entire entrance examination process will be conducted online, keeping the safety of the applicants on priority, amidst the ongoing global health crisis.

The schedule follows below:

Last Date to Apply    June 22, 2020

June 25, 2020         BSc/BA Filmmaking | Advanced Diploma in Filmmaking | BA Screenwriting | Diploma in Screenwriting | BA Acting | Advanced Diploma in Acting

June 26, 2020         BA Music Production & Composition | BBA Media & Communication | Post Graduate Diploma in Media & Entertainment | Post Graduate Programme in Event Management & Experiential Marketing | Integrated BSc/BA + Post Graduate Diploma in Animation | Integrated BSc/BA + Post Graduate Diploma in Game Design | Integrated BSc/BA + Post Graduate Diploma in Visual Communication Design | BA in Fashion Design

June 27, 2020         Reserve day for any student who missed on the previous dates.

Rated as one of the most ‘Influential Institutes of India’ by Forbes India, the institute has over 2200+ alumni successfully working with various media organisations, film production companies, and fashion houses in India and around the world. Through an academic curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on practical experience, state-of-the-art technology at the institute, and a globally recognised teaching staff, WWI produces globally qualified graduates in every field across the media and entertainment industries.

 Aspirants can visit www.whistlingwoods.net to fill the online admission forms to undertake the entrance examination.

Bayer Partners with ITC e-Choupal 4.0 to Support Farmers Across Karnataka

Crop Protection

* Farmers can order Bayer’s Crop Protection products on ITC’s e-Choupal 4.0 platform

* Partnership to benefit 42,000+ farmers in Mysore region

* Initiative to improve access to good-quality agri-inputs and timely agronomic advisory

Bayer CropScience Limited is partnering with ITC Limited’s Agri Business Division to extend the reach of its Crop Protection products through ITC’s e-Choupal 4.0 platform. The partnership has commenced as a pilot project in Mysore, Karnataka and will gradually be expanded to other geographies across India.

With Covid-19 disrupting farming operations and on-farm advisory, this initiative will help farmers avail agri-inputs and digital advisory on a timely basis. ITC & Bayer are jointly training and on-boarding retailers in the Mysore region, to cater to farmers’ orders placed through the e-Choupal 4.0 platform. Field Officers from both companies have also received extensive training on product knowledge and technical advisory to support farmers.

Over 42,000 ITC farmers, covering 60,000 hectares across 1,100 villages in Mysore region will benefit from the partnership with Bayer. Farmers can place their order for Bayer products through the e-Choupal 4.0 platform and track their orders. Farmers without access to smartphones can place their orders online with assistance from Bayer & ITC’s field staff or even place offline orders.

Speaking about the partnership with ITC, D. Narain, CEO & MD of Bayer CropScience Limited, said, “Farmers in India often struggle to get access to agri-inputs, training and advisory under one roof. Lack of modern technologies and good agricultural practices hamper crop productivity and farm profitability. At Bayer, we are looking at meaningful collaborations to create greater value for farmers and the entire agri eco-system. Bayer’s partnership with ITC aims to offer tailored solutions, enabling farmers to achieve better harvests and progress to sustainable agriculture. We also plan to leverage ITC’s extensive rural reach to create capacity building for adoption of greater product stewardship and traceability of produce.”

Elaborating on the partnership with Bayer, Sanjiv Rangrass of ITC Limited, who has been driving the

e-Choupal 4.0 initiative said, “While agronomic advisory is essential to the farmer, information on best practices alone is not sufficient to improve their profitability. Farmers routinely battle adulteration, product non-availability and arbitrary pricing. Consequently, they are not able to make informed purchasing decisions. Therefore, it is essential to provide farmers with access to the right set of products and services. ITC’s e-Choupal 4.0 platform aims at providing on-demand crop advisory linked to products & services across the value chain. ITC’s collaboration with Bayer will enable access to quality inputs by digitalizing the local marketplace eco-system for farmers. This will leverage Bayer’s expertise in agri-inputs and ITC’s deep-rooted linkages with farmers through the e-Choupal 4.0 platform, thereby creating value and a brand of trust for the farmers.”