Image: VOLKER WEIHBOLD
More than 20 children are sitting in the classroom wearing their winter jackets. The windows are wide open and cold and fresh air flows in. “We still have fond memories of these images during the corona pandemic,” says Wolfgang Hucek, president of the “ZULuft — Zukunft Luft Austria” association, the trigger for the “Initiative Raumluft” presented at a press conference on Wednesday.
“Window ventilation is not enough”
There is not enough fresh air in Austria’s schools. In addition, during measurements in the classroom, the guideline value of 1000 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide (CO2) set by the Ministry of Climate Protection was constantly exceeded. “Window ventilation is not sufficient for the necessary fresh air and is also a waste of heat or energy,” says Hucek, calling for an improvement in ventilation systems and a legal basis for indoor air quality in educational institutions.
The petition that has now been launched has prominent and expert supporters from medicine, such as Linz lung primary care physician Bernd Lamprecht. According to Lamprecht, comprehensive CO2 measurements and legal requirements have had a big impact on the quality of outdoor air in recent years. “The importance of indoor air quality for health and performance must be at least as important in social and political discourse,” emphasizes the doctor, who also serves as a scientific advisory board for the ZULuft association, which was founded in 2023.
Increased error rate
In addition to the health of students and teachers and the idea of sustainability, bad air in classrooms also has an impact on performance. According to ZULuft President Hucek, studies show that when the air in the classroom is bad, the error rate is increased by ten to 20 percent.
Scandinavian countries, where the quality of indoor air is already enshrined in law, or Belgium serve as role models. “CO2 measurements were introduced in all public buildings there,” says Hucek.
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Source: Nachrichten
