Catalan school heat mitigation: Fans deemed insufficient

In Catalonia, stakeholders are criticizing the use of fans as a primary solution for extreme heat in classrooms. The Federation of Installers Guilds of Catalonia (Fegicat) has warned that fans merely move air without cooling it, labeling them an ‘emergency measure’ rather than a permanent solution. While Fegicat supports the government's plan to climatize 2,530 public schools and 51 residences by 2031, they advocate for energy diagnostics, improved insulation, solar protection, and cross-ventilation instead.

Local tensions are rising in Reus, where the Parents' Association (AMPA) of General Prim School has labeled a municipal project to install 61 wall fans as ‘totally insufficient’ and a ‘waste of money.’ The association argues that current temperatures, which previously exceeded 34 degrees Celsius in classrooms, make fans ineffective for actual learning environments. They are calling for full air conditioning and plan to install a thermometer in the school's hottest classroom to document the conditions.

Reports indicate that approximately 1,200 of the 2,500 school buildings in Catalonia are currently not adapted to the present climate.