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A bad indoor climate has big consequences for our children

A bad indoor climate has big consequences for our children

A bad indoor climate has big consequences for our children

Lasse Mikkelsen, Airmaster
A healthy indoor climate is crucial for the performance in the classroom, but even though we know the consequences of a bad indoor climate, not much is being done to improve it. This is shown by the Danish experiment, Masseeksperimentet 2021 (Mass Experiment 2021), which was recently published.


3. February 2023

The mass experiment 2021 is organized by the national science center Astra, developed in collaboration with the Danish Technical University (DTU) and funded by the philanthropic association Realdania. A total of 709 classes participated, spread over 234 primary and lower secondary schools throughout Denmark. The purpose of the experiment is to shed light on the connection between the indoor climate, the well-being and concentration ability of children and young people.

The mass experiment has recently been published, and the results are breathtaking. The development over the past 13 years is hard to spot; because there has not been any. And that's critical. We have long known that a bad indoor climate can cause difficulty concentrating, malaise, headaches, etc., but that it can also make a professional difference of up to a year over an entire school life attracts attention:

“Children and young people's performance abilities are negatively affected by a poor indoor climate. We know that it is not necessarily super-exciting to talk about ventilation units, CO2 levels and room temperatures, but there is a need for us to put it on the agenda. The problem is far greater than what we actually think, and it affects the well-being of our children. We have to act on that! We have to put pressure on politicians, municipalities, and administrations. And we are already late in doing so, ”says Lasse Mikkelsen, CCO at Airmaster.

“Through the Mass Experiment, it has now been made clear that there are great gains to be made by, among other things, improving the air quality in the rooms in which the children use. The ability to concentrate will improve and they will become more physically well-adjusted. It is always important to remember to ventilate, but mechanical ventilation can be crucial for a sustainable healthy indoor climate. Therefore, it is only natural for Airmaster to join the debate now. Both because we are experts in school ventilation and indoor climate – but also because it would be wrong of us not to do so. 53% of the participating classes in the Mass Experiment are above the recommended limit for CO2 concentration. Our children do not deserve this” he says.

It requires political attention

It requires political attention

The issue surrounding bad indoor climate in schools and institutions has been in focus before, but the results of the experiment has brought the debate back - a debate Airmaster would like to participate in to, once again, create increased focus:

" We can only sound the alarm, but it requires our politicians to listen, and subsequently act. We want to help push the process, and therefore we do not want to shy away from engaging in the political dialogue.”

Decentralized ventilation units tailored to schools and institutions

For more than 30 years, Airmaster has developed and produced decentralized ventilation units tailored to schools and institutions in Denmark, Scandinavia and Europe.

“A large part of our customer segment is schools and institutions, and therefore we naturally believe that we are a real player in this debate. Our knowledge and focus is especially directed at that segment,” says Lasse Mikkelsen.

Airmaster’s units are stand-alone units that are available as wall-mounted and floor-standing units and are often placed close to an outer wall. This means that they supply fresh outdoor air directly to, for example, classrooms - and conversely, extract the used air out of the building. This way, the used air is not recycled, and you avoid energy loss by not having to transport the air through long ducts.

The units are also demand-controlled, which means that you can control the indoor climate according to the needs of the individual rooms. They can be controlled in different ways - for example by a time schedule, CO2 sensor, TVOC sensor, motion sensor or a humidity sensor.

The plug-and-play function means that the decentralized ventilation units can be implemented directly in the rooms where an air change is needed, which is a great advantage when we talk about renovation in existing buildings:

“You can take one room at a time when installing a decentralized system. There is thus no need for, for example, rehousing of students while the renovation work is in progress. This is a great advantage for e.g. schools. In addition, it is of course also a financial benefit that you can renovate in stages and start with the rooms that have the greatest need, ”says Lasse Mikkelsen.

With the results from the Mass Experiment 2021, it is Airmaster's hope that more schools will have the opportunity to optimize their indoor climate:

“I hope that the indoor climate really gets the attention it deserves, and that we get parents, school boards, administrations, and municipalities up and running. And at Airmaster, we are ready to help lift the task”, he concludes.

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