Policy decision and planning for air conditioning in public schools:
- There are already 4.597 air conditioning devices have been installed in 523 schools - the aim is to install them in all classrooms
- Proposal for a five-year implementation plan, with additional development expenditure by the Ministry of Education of EUR 20 million per year
- Two alternative operational scenarios are being considered
The issue of climate conditions in our schools has been a concern for years. It has been raised repeatedly by organised parents, educational organisations and students, and there has been a public debate. The issue of high temperatures is occasionally raised, particularly at certain times of the year, either in May-June or in September. While the worsening climate crisis creates even more pressing conditions. During the period of the Pancyprian Examinations, for example, it is realised that the best conditions should be ensured not in some, but in all school premises where candidates participate in examination procedures.
From time to time the issue has been considered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth (MPEY) and relevant studies and processes have been carried out, but so far no definitive solution has been provided.
AIR CONDITIONING IN SCHOOLS - CURRENT SITUATION
A record made almost three years ago, in October 2019, showed that there were 4,597 air conditioning devices in schools. That's almost three devices per school, on average. In most of the public kindergartens there is air conditioning (almost all of them in Limassol).
- In primary schools there were 1,961 devices installed in 244 out of 330 schools. That is an average of eight devices per school.
- In secondary education, 1,753 devices were installed in 91 out of 104 schools. That is 19 devices in each of those 91.
- In Secondary Technical Education there were 251 devices in seven schools. That is an average of 36 devices in each school.
- In addition there are 128 devices in four Special Schools.
A total of 4,597 devices were recorded in 523 of the 718 schools, nine devices in each of these schools. While the total number today is certainly higher.
So far and in accordance with the Ministry of Education's Building Program, air conditioners are installed and operating:
- In Directorate and Secretariat Offices
- In Teachers' and Teachers' Rooms
- In Special Education Rooms
- In Multipurpose and Event Rooms
- In Medical Offices
- In Laboratories.
In practice, however, they do have air conditioning and several classrooms, but the disparity in distribution should be of concern.
POLICY DECISION
For these reasons and without ignoring suggestions for alternatives - which can be implemented in parallel - we have proceeded with a policy decision which was initially announced in September 2020, following a proposal by the President of the Democratic Rally as well, to install air conditioning in schools.
Since then, a preliminary study has been carried out by the Ministry's services and a design proposal has emerged. Taking into account the alternatives to the installation of air-conditioning systems, at the level of policy-making a decisive role is played by the fact that in today's society and in everyday life, all places where children move and live have air-conditioning anyway (in pupils' homes, in common recreational areas and other places, including those specially designed and operated with children, etc.).
Since there is air-conditioning everywhere where pupils are present, there is no need to install air-conditioning. For this reason, and taking into account that air conditioning devices are already widely available within schools, air conditioning should also be provided in classrooms. Therefore, the policy decision that the Ministry of Education is called upon to implement is to proceed with air conditioning in all schools.
PRELIMINARY PLANNING FOR INSTALLATION OF AIR CONDITIONING IN SCHOOLS
To this end, a planning exercise has been carried out that provides for the installation of air conditioning and ventilation systems in all public schools. On this basis and as long as, after consultation with the Ministry of Finance, a proposal is submitted and approved by the Council of Ministers, we will proceed with the necessary detailed technical and economic study.
It is estimated that this is a project which requires an investment of around 102 million euros and will have a duration of five years.
Initially, the following costs are estimated. .......................................... EUR 15 million
- Supply and installation of air conditioners........................ EUR 15 million
- Supply and installation of ventilation........................... EUR 2 million
Taking into account the necessary timeframes for implementation (especially the preparation of the electrical installations), a proposal for a five-year project development period is formulated. The Development Budget of the Ministry of Finance should be adjusted accordingly, after consultation and with the agreement of the Ministry of Finance. Given that the Medium Term Financial Framework (MFF) 2022-24 is now evolving, such a design should be included in the next MFF.
At first sight, two alternative operational plans can be proposed.
- Either the implementation of the project will be entrusted to the School Boards and they will proceed with the Design-Build Method based on instructions from the Technical Services of the Ministry of Education and Science. For this purpose, the School Boards will set up a Team of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, with the hiring of services, which will be responsible for the management of the project. The MoEAP Technical Services will have an advisory and guiding role, also carrying out spot checks
- Either the MoEAP Technical Services will undertake to prepare the relevant specifications, tender documents, tender evaluation etc. and will also proceed with the Design-Build Method in collaboration with specific consortia of companies/offices.
In either of the two cases, the Technical Services of the MoES will be reinforced with specialized staff, depending on the choice made.
It is further noted that in addition to the general expenditure, electricity consumption will increase by an amount that may amount to about 4 million per year (70,000 per day for a period of about three months), and possibly the schools will be included in another tariff. However, this estimate is combined with the large-scale savings due to the installation of photovoltaic systems in all schools, which will be completed this summer.
ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE SCHOOLS
In addition, a Special Advisory Committee was set up in September 2019 to investigate and discuss the whole issue. Five ministries, the Energy Regulatory Authority, the Cyprus Electricity Authority, the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus University of Technology, the Cyprus Technical University of Technology, the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority and the Coordinating Committee of School Boards participated. Through this process, a number of findings and recommendations emerged.
The initial suggestion was that alternative ways of improving buildings and spaces should be sought in order to ensure better conditions. This proposal was based on the assessment that other, more environmentally friendly methods could achieve satisfactory results without air conditioning. By way of example, a proposal to adapt school buildings to ensure thermal comfort (without air conditioning) was estimated to cost EUR 60 million.
In the context of these guidelines, the Ministry of Education and Culture systematically aims to upgrade the energy performance of school buildings and transform them into near-zero energy buildings. This is done for all new school buildings that are being constructed, as well as in the case of buildings that are undergoing seismic upgrading and/or extension. The aim is to create thermal comfort conditions and provisions for wall mounted ventilation/ventilation systems are installed in all the aforementioned projects. It is noted that so far more than 60 public schools have been upgraded in terms of energy efficiency. In the meantime, the PEDIA pilot project was added, in cooperation with the Cyprus Energy Office, under which 25 schools are being properly retrofitted.
It is further noted that in the framework of the Recovery and Cohesion Fund programmes, the Ministry of Public Works had submitted a proposal for an energy upgrade project for a number of school buildings and their conversion to near-zero energy buildings, but this proposal could not be included in the Plan.
In a meeting held in Summer 2021, specific suggestions for the creation of thermal comfort conditions in the school premises were submitted by ETEK and experts from a relevant team of the University of Cyprus and some of the suggestions are in the process of being tested.
The air conditioning installation plan can be accompanied by some of the above suggestions and possibly applied where the alternatives do not ensure satisfactory conditions.
(EC)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
