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‘Children were calling for their mummies’: UK pupils struggle in 40C-plus classrooms
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2026
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We know this is the norm for summer now and only going to get worse. We can't rebuilt all our buildings for this new climate, but we can retrofit active cooling. We need a nation program of ACs for hospitals and schools. 25 years is a target far to far into the future.
Not unless those AC units are combined with rooftop solar. Most schools have massive amounts of space on the roof, so solar should be cheap and potentially even profitable to install.
Agreed. Do all the things!
We can start by retrofitting passive cooling: external window shades are cheap and would make a big difference due to how big classroom windows tend to be.
It doesn't help much in a school setting.
Some of my Uni buildings have shutters, but the issue is that during the night all the windows are shut for security. So while the shutters prevent the room from getting as hot during the day, policy keeps it from being able to cool off. So the rooms are just hot
Essentially you would need a person to actively manage the passive cooling. Someone to ensure windows are open through the night. Teachers should be able to handle shutting the windows and shutter by a certain time of day, but in a hospital or uni you'll need someone to make sure that happens building wide.
Completely agree, but I don't see that as either or. We need both. This is the coolest summer we might have in our life times. I'm genuinely concerned we are getting ready fast enough of what is coming. I mean it could swing the other way if the gold stream stops, or we need to deal with crazy cold, and maybe crazy hot.
Also way cheaper, though the school would have to ventilate over night lest it just become a slow-bake oven.