A necessity for students’ health and learning

By Mandy Clarke, Industry Reporter

For educators, the significance of creating a supportive and comfortable learning environment cannot be overstated, yet a crucial but often overlooked aspect of the educational process is the air quality and air conditioning in classrooms.

School News delves into the importance of addressing air quality concerns in schools, the benefits of adequate air conditioning, and the steps that schools can take to improve both.

Recent studies in both Victoria and NSW, conducted by RMIT and UNSW respectively, have shown that air quality in primary and secondary school classrooms is poor, with the amount of CO2 often far exceeding the maximum acceptable standard. A large amount of research has documented an association between poor air quality and student performance.

One study involving 100 schools in the United States titled “Association between substandard classroom ventilation rates and students’ academic achievement” demonstrated that classroom ventilation rates are directly associated with students’ academic achievements and measurable progress in maths and reading was observed through standardised tests when air quality improved. These conclusions were echoed in another big cohort study performed on more than 8000 children in the UK.

Shockingly, research going back to the 1970s has shown temperatures above 23°C can negatively impact student comfort and concentration, particularly in subjects like reading and mathematics.

A 2018 Harvard Kennedy School study of 10 million secondary school students found that they had better academic results after a cool school year than after a hot school year. In fact, student achievement dropped by one percent per additional degree in temperature.

Extreme temperatures can affect students’ concentration and cognitive function, and overall learning outcomes can be impacted. Students can focus better, retain information more effectively, and perform at their best academically when temperatures are comfortable.

Good temperature control and regulation also helps to improve the overall health and well-being of students and staff, when comfortable temperatures are maintained, schools can even reduce absenteeism due to illness.

Maintaining an optimal temperature in learning spaces can positively influence student performance and as Australian temperatures fluctuate and continue to rise, the need for air conditioning in classrooms becomes more critical.

In addition to regulating temperature, air conditioning systems can also improve air quality by filtering out allergens, pollutants, and airborne particles. This creates a healthier and more comfortable environment for both students and teachers, reducing absenteeism and improving overall academic performance.

When schools implement efficient heating and cooling systems, they can also make significant energy savings and cost reductions.

Energy-efficient HVAC systems, such as those with programmable thermostats, zoned controls, and smart sensors, can regulate temperatures more effectively, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption. Importantly by optimizing energy usage, schools can reduce their utility bills and allocate those savings to other educational resources.

Here are some points to consider for schools to ensure classrooms are conducive to learning by providing adequate air conditioning:

• Regular maintenance, servicing, cleaning, and filter replacements help maintain air quality and ensure the system runs efficiently, reducing energy consumption and costs.

• Invest in a system with HighEfficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, to effectively remove pollutants and allergens from the air and improve indoor air quality.

• Increase natural ventilation, whenever possible encourage natural ventilation by opening windows and doors to allow fresh air to circulate.

• Adopt green building practices because sustainable design principles can promote better air quality.

• Educate staff and students about the importance of air quality and managing air conditioning to encourage responsible practices, such as promptly reporting maintenance issues and turning off air conditioning systems when not in use.

• Maintain appropriate humidity levels and prevent stagnant air.

• Collaborate with air quality and air conditioning specialists to help identify potential problems and develop tailored solutions for specific needs.

In Term 2, make air quality and air conditioning a priority in your classroom. Take the necessary steps to nurture a healthier and more favourable learning environment for your students and teachers and pave the way for enhanced academic performance, improved overall health for all, while reducing energy costs.