Tuesday, September 16, 2025
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
Environmental Magazine
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Air

Air filters and opening windows can reduce classroom pollution by up to 36%, says Surrey study

March 12, 2024
in Air
A A

To improve air quality in classrooms, schools should use air purifiers during the school day and open the windows after hours. That’s according to a new study from the University of Surrey.

In England, 7,800 schools are in locations where air pollution breaches WHO limits. Last month, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, announced that air purifiers would be installed in 200 of them.

Nidhi Rawat, a researcher at Surrey’s Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), said:

“Alternating purifiers with scheduled window openings is an effective way to clean up classroom air.

“The most effective combination depends on the characteristics and location of the classroom, and when the teacher opens windows.

“We also understand that keeping the windows open is not always comfortable or practical – so a sensible, tailored approach is recommended.”

Scientists monitored pollution in two classrooms at an infant school in Guildford, UK. It is 10 metres from the A3 road, passed by 31,000 cars each day.

They studied two classrooms: one facing the road and occupied by 4 to 5-year-olds, and one on the other side of the building, occupied by 6 to 7-year-olds.

In both classrooms, the best improvements in air quality happened when air purifiers were alternated with scheduled window openings. Coarse particle pollution fell by 18% in the classroom nearest the road and 36% in the other classroom. Carbon dioxide fell 28% in the classroom nearest the road and 11% in the other classroom.

Smaller improvements were detected when windows were opened without air purifiers.

Professor Prashant Kumar, director of GCARE, said:

“Our timely study can help policymakers choose when and how to optimise the benefits of air purifiers and window openings in the classroom.

“Globally, millions of children are forced to breathe poor quality air while they learn. We hope our study can be used to design ways to make classrooms safer and pupils healthier.”

The study is published in the Journal of Building Engineering.

It contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and well-being), 4 (quality education) and 11 (sustainable cities and communities).

ShareTweetSharePinSendShare

Related Articles

Air

Beyond the filter: what’s happening in industrial air pollution management?

September 11, 2025
Air

Londoners’ air pollution drops by a quarter at weekends, say new data

September 10, 2025
Air

Next-generation carbon capture technology goes live at Ferrybridge EfW

September 8, 2025
Air

Study outlines digital roadmap for net zero steel

August 17, 2025
Air

Glasgow air pollution drops by a third following LEZ enforcement, reports city council

August 15, 2025
Air

Tyres now the biggest source of emissions from vehicles, suggests testing company CEO

August 13, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Real-time CO monitoring protects workers in mobile cleaning units

May 18, 2025

Nature-positive AI projects hailed successes following £2 million investment

July 8, 2025

Don't miss it

Fossil Fuels

Riding the High From Data Centers, the Grid Cannot Kick Its Gas Habit

September 14, 2025
Fossil Fuels

As Congress Takes a New Swing at Bipartisan Permitting Reform, Environmental Groups Are Calling Foul

September 13, 2025
Fossil Fuels

House Republicans’ Use of Little-Known Law to Strike Down Public Land Plans Could Be Pandora’s Box Moment

September 12, 2025
Energy

Department of Energy Allocates $134 million for Fusion Funding

September 11, 2025
Energy

Utility-Scale Solar Can Withstand Severe Hailstorms. Here’s How

September 11, 2025
Energy

Solar Power Gave the Formerly Incarcerated Hope in NJ. Federal Cuts Are Taking it Back

September 11, 2025
Environmental Magazine

Environmental Magazine, Latest News, Opinions, Analysis Environmental Magazine. Follow us for more news about Enviroment and climate change from all around the world.

Learn more

Sections

  • Activism
  • Air
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Fossil Fuels
  • News
  • Uncategorized
  • Water

Topics

Activism Air Climate Change Energy Fossil Fuels News Uncategorized Water

Recent News

Riding the High From Data Centers, the Grid Cannot Kick Its Gas Habit

September 14, 2025

As Congress Takes a New Swing at Bipartisan Permitting Reform, Environmental Groups Are Calling Foul

September 13, 2025

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.