Simple adaptations to education buildings can help meet climate targets and make buildings more resilient to climate change, more energy efficient, and healthier places to work and learn. Even relatively newly built classrooms overheat up to 40% of the time.

This advice offers help to school and college leaders adapting education buildings to the double threat of the climate emergency and rising energy costs. It can also be used by National Education Union (NEU) workplace reps and health and safety reps to raise the issue of upgrades to education buildings with leaders and employers.

What is retrofitting?

Retrofitting refers to structural changes to buildings to improve energy efficiency and resilience to the effects of climate change. Retrofitting school buildings is not a quick fix to current high energy bills, but in the longer term it can cut carbon emissions and enable schools to make much-needed savings.

Retrofitting ranges from double glazing and wall insulation, to more advanced green technologies like heat pumps and solar panels, which will save carbon and money in the long term.

In the short term, some simple steps can help keep buildings warm in winter and cool in summer:

• A pre-heating season boiler service and check of heating and hot water timers.
• Checking that loft insulation is adequate.
• Making sure that radiators are not covered up.
• Checking that lightbulbs are LED.
• Repairing leaking gutters and wet walls.
• Checking that appliances aren’t left on for long periods when not in use.
• Checking lighting timers for internal and external lights – are lights only used when needed?
• Closing curtains at dusk in winter.
• Preventing overheating by installing shading to windows. External shading is more effective than internal blinds, though both can help.
• Planting trees and other green areas outside the building to counteract the heat island effect. Shading the playground keeps the tarmac cooler.

Foster a climate amongst staff which encourages the sharing of good ideas.

Why retrofit?

Help reduce carbon emissions

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) estimates that retrofitting will save a huge 1.2 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions – it’s a crucial step in achieving Net Zero. And in a context of rapidly rising energy bills it could eventually slash costs.

Provide much needed repairs. Create safer, more inclusive buildings

Retrofitting can also address the dire need for repairs faced by schools across the country – on average £300,000-£700,000 per school according to TUC estimates. This could include asbestos removal, with the potential to mitigate serious threats to health.

More than 80% of educational buildings still contain asbestos. The risk of exposing asbestos must therefore be considered before disturbing the fabric of any building.

In some cases, the presence of asbestos makes major structural work impossible and will require a rebuild. Even then, addressing general maintenance issues is still worthwhile.

It is vital that moving towards Net Zero does not compromise safety. The NEU campaigns alongside all the other education unions to tackle the huge problem of asbestos in schools.

Create a comfortable working and learning environment

As temperatures become more extreme due to the climate crisis, retrofitting can make schools more comfortable and safer.

Effective mechanical ventilation systems can also assist learning since high CO₂ levels reduce concentration, while better ventilation and cleaner air means less opportunity for COVID-19 and other viruses to spread.

In cold conditions there are minimum workplace temperatures which must be adhered to. The NEU has further guidance on both high and low temperatures (England / Wales) which can be used to support workers currently struggling with this in schools.

Alongside the other education unions, we have published a joint union heatwave protocol to help prepare for future extreme heat events.

Create valuable learning opportunities

Retrofitting should involve the whole school community. Today’s generation of pupils will confront the challenges of climate breakdown over the coming decades, so engaging with them about solutions visible in their own school environment will offer inspiring learning opportunities.