In Vietnam’s hot and humid Mekong Delta, classrooms depend heavily on fans, lights and other electrical devices — yet most schools have no way to track energy use or room conditions in real time. Electricity is wasted, and teachers lack the tools to keep temperature and humidity at levels comfortable for learning. A student team at Nguyen Binh Khiem High School for the Gifted in Vinh Long Province set out to change that: EcoTwin Class creates a real-time “digital twin” of the classroom — a connected system of sensors, dashboard and AI that monitors energy use and environmental conditions, flags problems, and helps teachers run a greener, safer, smarter learning space.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Sensors continuously measure electricity consumption, temperature, humidity and light. A microcontroller sends the data to a computer, where it is processed in Python and displayed on a live dashboard — giving teachers and administrators classroom conditions at a glance. AI analyses the data to detect unusual patterns, forecast energy trends and send alerts when values exceed safe limits. Sustainability runs through the build itself: roughly 70% of the model is made from reused or eco-friendly materials, including recycled sensors and wiring from earlier STEM projects and biodegradable 3D-printed parts. At around 748,000 VND per classroom, the system is designed to scale — from a single room in Vinh Long to schools across Vietnam.
