How to Improve the Indoor Climate in Classrooms?

Natural ventilation controlled by the occupants opening the windows is the main way to provide fresh air in German schools. Ventilation only during the breaks between the lessons is insufficient. Therefore a certain amount of continuous airing is required with regard to both improved indoor air quality and thermal comfort. After a short description of the special circumstances in classrooms the requirements for the indoor climate and possible solutions for the improvement of the indoor climate will be discussed. The aim, the methodological approach and first results of an experimental study on automated window ventilation will be presented. A precondition for automation is a well-designed façade with separate openings for supply and exhaust air. For automation a fuzzy control algorithm is developed which automatically adapts the opening width of the windows in dependence of the outside temperature and the indoor air quality and temperature. First tests show that fuzzy control is a suitable method for automation.