Vejle Municipality shows the way: Healthier daycare centers with new indoor climate project

In daycare centers across the country, high levels of sickness absence and indoor climate problems are a recurring challenge. But in Vejle Municipality, an ambitious project focusing on air quality has created significant results. In a project with ÅBN, which involved installing SKYEN in all rooms, the indoor climate in the municipality's daycare center has not only improved, but it has also given the staff a better working environment and reduced sickness absence.

Poor indoor air quality affects health

Danish daycare centers are often characterized by busyness, many people in small spaces and insufficient ventilation. According to research, a poor indoor climate with high CO2 levels can lead to fatigue, headaches and an increased risk of spreading infection. In Vejle Municipality, the problem was so serious that it affected both the well-being of the staff and the children's everyday lives.

To turn the tide, the municipality decided to take action. The solution was SKYEN – an innovative sensor solution that measures and visualizes air quality in real time. With the help of simple but effective measures, four institutions were transformed into leading examples of how better air can create a better working environment.

Leaders as frontrunners in change

One of the most important elements of the project was strong management support . Institutional leaders played a central role in implementing new ventilation routines and ensuring that staff actively participated in the change. A targeted effort with indoor climate ambassadors and simple behavioral changes quickly made a noticeable difference.

It's SKYEN: SKYEN is a simple CO2 meter that visualizes the indoor climate in the institution and helps to remember to ventilate. SKYEN was developed in collaboration with Danish elementary school children, inspired by "Øret" which most people remember being used to lower the noise level.

Documented results: Less illness and greater well-being

The project's impact is evident. Data from the evaluation shows a clear improvement in a number of crucial parameters:

📈 Satisfaction with the indoor climate increased from 61% to 77% among staff
📉 Indoor climate-related discomfort decreased significantly – fewer employees now experience headaches, fatigue and difficulty concentrating
💪 Less sickness absence – more employees feel healthy and fit at work
👍 Strong support – 70% of staff would recommend SKYEN to other institutions

According to experts, these results are not only remarkable, but also a testament to the fact that healthier indoor climates provide a stronger working environment .

A model for the rest of the country?

Vejle Municipality's project has received attention from several quarters, and the results may have significance far beyond the municipal borders. If other municipalities follow the same strategy, it could mean significant improvements to the working environment of daycare institutions and the well-being of the children.

“We have seen a clear difference in everyday life,” says one of the institutional managers in Vejle. “The employees have fewer headaches, are healthier and the ventilation now happens completely naturally. It is a cultural change that we do not want to go back from.”

In a time when sick leave costs society billions, and well-being in public institutions is a hot topic of debate, Vejle Municipality shows that small changes can make a big difference. Perhaps this is where the future solutions for a better working environment in the welfare sector are to be found.

Want to dive into the project? Read the full report and see all the results here.