Schools on hold – how simple measures can help improving the indoor environment in schools

Abstract

This work presents the lessons-learned from a Norwegian project called "Skoler på vent" – "Schools on hold" – which is aiming at finding simple and effective measures for improving the indoor climate in schools that have been put on hold. Schools on hold often suffer from dissatisfying indoor thermal comfort which also extents to affecting people`s health, wellbeing and learning. Measurement data (temperature, CO2-level and relative humidity) have been collected from several rooms in three schools in the municipality of Trondheim, Norway, during two measurement campaigns. Furthermore, interviews with school employees as well as surveys among the students have been carried out during the same periods to gain insights in the perceived indoor environment. Results show that simple measures such as i) removing the lowering of heating set points during the night, ii) checking the radiator valve position at the end of a school day, iii) introducing routines for natural ventilation during breaks and iv) improving the room cleaning routines can improve the perceived indoor environment notably. Furthermore, the applied methodology is discussed and improvements suggested.