Classroom Temperature Potentially Reaches as High as 38 Degrees
Revised Article:
Get ready for some well-deserved break, students in Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland! But let's face it, the classrooms were already heating up long before the vacation started, with temperatures touching the 30-degree mark in many places, making learning a struggle.
Temperature Troubles in Classrooms - Where's the Fix?
Recent measurements at the Gymnasium Maroltingergasse in Ottakring by Greenpeace and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) reveal just how high temperatures can soar. Since May 27, temperatures above 27 degrees were recorded in classrooms on 25 days, and in some rooms, it rose above 30 degrees during lessons on up to 16 days. The record high was on June 13, with temperatures starting at 28 degrees, and despite the outdoor temperature remaining below, the classroom temperature skyrocketed to over 32 degrees. Officially, the highest temperature in the building was around 38 degrees.
"Every year, teaching becomes increasingly difficult during the warmer months for both students and teachers. Sometimes, the classrooms are so hot that children suffer from circulation problems," says Elisabeth Gutenberg, director of the school, urging support from the federal government to adapt the school buildings to the changing conditions.
The Catch with Ventilation
"In classrooms without proper measures against excess heat, like in the Maroltingergasse, the situation can become precarious," explains Herbert Formayer, professor at BOKU's Institute of Meteorology and Climatology. On the other hand, keeping windows closed during the day and trapping the heat outside isn't an option, as the CO2 content without ventilation rapidly becomes intolerable within 20 minutes.
Organizations like "Teachers for Future" echo these concerns. "Lessons become almost impossible from May. We've received reports from various federal states about the high temperatures, such as snapshots during the Matura from Vienna, Upper Austria, and Styria," says Anna Großmann.
Addressing the Heat: Greenpeace and "Teachers for Future" Call for Action
Greenpeace and "Teachers for Future" urge the federal government to provide adequate budget and resources to modify schools to withstand heat. "Heat protection in schools is not a luxury, but a necessary measure for educational justice," says Jasmin Duregger, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace.
Emerging solutions to address the heat problem in schools across Austria encompass passive cooling retrofits, expansion of urban green spaces, temporary fan deployment during heatwaves, and early warning systems for heatwaves. These strategies are part of broader city and regional initiatives to adapt to climate change, especially in Vienna, Lower Austria, and Burgenland. However, large-scale school-specific heat solutions are yet to be fully implemented, signaling an area of ongoing policy development in response to the rising heat challenges.
- In light of the soaring temperatures in classrooms, as evidenced by the measurements at the Gymnasium Maroltingergasse, the study of environmental science, such as climate-change, becomes increasingly challenging, as the heat adversely affects learning.
- The science education system, including environmental-science, is in need of adaptation to the changing climatic conditions, as highlighted by Elisabeth Gutenberg, the director of the school, who urges support from the federal government.
- Amidst the increased calls for action from organizations like Greenpeace and "Teachers for Future", and the concerns about the intolerable CO2 content in classrooms without ventilation, implementing effective heat solutions in schools across Austria, such as passive cooling retrofits, urban green spaces, and early warning systems, becomes crucial for education-and-self-development, fostering a conducive learning environment.
