When a heatwave struck Luxembourg City, primary schools struggled to keep classrooms comfortable despite emergency measures.
Vanessa Tosseng, a teacher and president at a school in Bonnevoie, ordered two fans and strictly followed official ventilation guidelines. She ensured her pupils had plenty of water and even provided foot baths with cold water to help them cope.
Still, classroom temperatures soared to 35°C. “There was no way we could work properly", she explained. The children were tired, unfocused, and "it was just too hot for all of us".
During the recent heatwave, the city provided schools with extra funding to buy water-based play equipment or organise outings to cooler places, such as parks or museums. Many classes in Bonnevoie took advantage of these resources to provide some relief.
However, retrofitting air conditioning was not considered an option by the Luxembourg City council.
Alderman for education Paul Galles cited two main concerns: the technical complexity of installation and the high energy consumption of air conditioning units.
According to him, air conditioning uses a lot of electricity, and at a time when not all of Luxembourg’s power is green, "we felt this was not a sustainable choice”, Galles explained.
In response to last year’s heatwave, the city instead invested in 300 fans for schools to order as needed.
Yet, with ever longer and hotter heatwaves expected in the future, some now question whether simply airing out classrooms is enough.
Galles acknowledges that officials underestimated how severe and how quickly the heatwaves would worsen. “We knew change was coming, but not the intensity or the speed." For decades, buildings with thick walls have sufficed, according to Galles. But last year, with temperatures around 32 to 35°C degrees, that was no longer enough, and made fans indispensable.
As a result of the latest heatwave, the city has now agreed on additional measures.
By next summer, all schools, daycare centres, and nurseries in Luxembourg City are to be equipped with external sun protection, either in the form of awnings or trees. In addition, so-called “cool rooms” will be installed in schools, according to Galles.
That means there will be at least one air-conditioned room per school where pupils can retreat. In buildings where heat is a particular problem, especially temporary container classrooms, "there will be more cool rooms – we may even equip nearly every classroom with cooling in the worst cases”, he stated.
School libraries are seen as ideal locations for these cool rooms, while canteens are likely candidates in daycare centres, Galles noted.
In case of emergencies, such as a child or teacher falling ill due to the heat, they can be brought to these cooled spaces. The city also plans to rotate classes so pupils can periodically cool off in the dedicated rooms during hot periods.
The city has also faced criticism over schoolyards heavy on concrete and short on shade. A multi-year plan will now prioritise ‘de-sealing’ and adding greenery to these areas. Playgrounds with the worst conditions are set to be revamped first.
