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Carbon dioxide concentration levels and thermal comfort in primary school classrooms: what pupils and teachers do
Resource type
Journal Article
Authors/contributors
- Zapata-Lancaster, Maria Gabriela (Author)
- Ionas, Miltiadis (Author)
- Toyinbo, Oluyemi (Author)
- Smith, Thomas Aneurin (Author)
Title
Carbon dioxide concentration levels and thermal comfort in primary school classrooms: what pupils and teachers do
Abstract
The current climate emergency concerns and the COVID-19 pandemic demand urgent action to maintain healthy indoor environments in energy efficient ways. Promoting good indoor environments, in particular, increasing ventilation levels, has been a prominent strategy to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission indoors. However, this strategy could be detrimental to thermal comfort, particularly during the heating season in buildings located in temperate climate zones. This paper presents research conducted in two primary schools in South Wales (UK) where the temperature, relative humidity and the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration levels were monitored. The study monitored six classrooms and two communal spaces in the two schools during the academic year 2021/2022, the first academic year back to teaching and learning in school buildings after home-schooling and educational disruptions due to COVID-19 lockdowns. The study investigated the actions taken by teachers and pupils to balance the thermal comfort needs while minimising CO2 concentration levels. We conducted user studies to explore the comfort perceptions by pupils and teachers in relation to the thermal conditions and the freshness of air in the monitored classrooms. The paper identifies opportunities where end-users, teachers and pupils engaged with the management of the indoor environmental conditions and adopted actions to balance the requirement of reducing CO2 concentration levels while promoting thermal comfort. This research offers lessons and insights related to end-users’ agency and their understanding of indoor environments and thermal experience in schools.
Publication
Sustainability
Volume
15
Issue
6
Pages
4803
Date
2023/1
Language
en
ISSN
2071-1050
Short Title
Carbon Dioxide Concentration Levels and Thermal Comfort in Primary School Classrooms
Accessed
20/04/2023, 01:30
Library Catalogue
Call Number
openalex:W4323664266
Extra
openalex: W4323664266
Citation
Zapata-Lancaster, M. G., Ionas, M., Toyinbo, O., & Smith, T. A. (2023). Carbon dioxide concentration levels and thermal comfort in primary school classrooms: what pupils and teachers do. Sustainability, 15(6), 4803. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064803
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