How do we create a healthy and learning-promoting indoor climate in schools – together with those it's all about?
In Kalundborg Municipality they have found the answer: The students must be involved!
Kalundborg Municipality has a strong focus on improving the indoor climate of primary schools. That is why the municipality is participating in a Realdania project, where the school and property management work closely together to develop a comprehensive municipal indoor climate strategy . The goal? To create schools where both students and teachers thrive better every single day.
But one thing quickly became clear: Indoor climate is not just about ventilation systems and thermostats. It is also about behavior, responsibility and community. Because even the best technical solutions cannot stand alone if the users are not involved.
As part of the project, Kalundborg Municipality has taken an unusual but highly effective step:
They have chosen to educate students to be active players through ÅBN's Indoor Climate Ambassador training - a practical indoor climate course where young people learn to understand, influence and improve the indoor climate at their own schools.
The student councils from the after-school program at all the municipality's schools were invited to a full-day course. Here, they not only gained knowledge about air quality, CO₂, temperature and behavior – they also developed the Students' Indoor Climate Strategy : a plan created by the children themselves to improve the everyday lives of their peers.
"It is important that it is not just the adults who guess what is best for the children," says Tanja Kristensen, school principal and project manager for the Realdania project. "The children's own experiences and suggestions are absolutely central when we want to create lasting improvements."
Rune Frimann Larsen, team leader in the property department, emphasizes the value of the children's perspective:
"When we listen to the students, we gain insight into the real challenges: bad chairs, heavy rooms and bad air. We can install all sorts of technical solutions, but without the children on board, we won't create real change."
The students left the course with both knowledge and concrete tools. They are now active indoor climate ambassadors in their own schools – role models who inspire their classmates to take responsibility for a healthier indoor climate.
"We can go a long way with buildings and technology," says Rune, "but behavior is crucial. When students take responsibility themselves, we not only create better schools – we also create children who know how to take care of their surroundings."
Get an insight into the students' journey towards a better indoor climate - watch the video from the day the students were trained as indoor climate ambassadors.
👉 Watch the video here
With ÅBN's Indoor Climate course, you can strengthen learning, health and community. Contact us today and hear how we can help you make students an active part of your indoor climate efforts.
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