School buildings filled with moisture and mould, often outdated, and whose classrooms now reach extreme temperatures. Italian school buildings have been described this way for years and pose a threat not only at the educational level, but also to the health of both students and teaching staff. The new European directive called “Green Homes” is about to be defined in final detail in Brussels and could provide Italy with some important answers and resources to improve the energy efficiency of schools. Much will depend on the plan the Italian government decides to propose, given the next and decisive meeting scheduled for early December.
urgent renovations
The first to complain are managers who have to manage old and often dangerous buildings. The survey published by Censis in the “Social Situation Report 2022” reveals that 95% of the 1,400 school administrators interviewed believe that structural works for energy saving are necessary in their institutions. “The insulation of school buildings is a constant and daily problem that leads to water leaks, high bills, inadequate heating and constant heat losses,” complained Leonardo Castellana, director of the ‘Armando Perotti’ Hotel Institute in Bari. They’re usually still from the 70’s.
Old and inadequate buildings
The main shortcomings relate to insulation, energy and environmental sustainability. The average age of schools is 53 years, and 42% of buildings were built before 1976. The situation is even worse when buildings are not built as schools; one quarter. The subsequent “readaptation” occurred mainly in regions such as Campania, Calabria, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Liguria, Puglia and Umbria.
Other data emerge from Legambiente’s “XXII National Report on the quality of school buildings and services”; It is stated here that only slightly more than half of the 40 thousand school buildings in Italy have taken measures to reduce energy consumption. The vast majority (75%) are classified between the lowest energy categories, E and G. Despite the investments envisaged by Pnrr, a reversal of this trend still seems far away.
National plan is expected
An important contribution may come from the European Union, where the approval process of Europe’s so-called “green homes” directive has ended. The last tripartite meeting on the Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD) took place on 12 October. On this occasion, the European Commission, the Parliament and the EU Council came up with a principle of agreement on the energy recharacterization of public buildings. Mandatory minimum energy standards for all buildings have been lowered or, in any case, revised; however, legislation will continue to focus on the priority renovation of buildings in more energy-critical conditions.
The final round of negotiations will be held on December 7, when member countries will define the total level of energy savings to be achieved by 2030 and 2035. By then each member state will need to develop a national plan to improve the energy efficiency of homes and schools. and hospitals. It is estimated that more than 40% of the country’s building stock, including schools, needs significant improvements. “The EPBD Directive finally draws attention to the urgent need to modernize Italian buildings, making them more durable and efficient,” said Green MP Rosa D’Amato. “It is very important for our children: I say this as a teacher, I have experienced first-hand the importance of a quality school environment. Future generations deserve to go to schools and homes that do not compromise their health,” continued the member of the European Parliament.
Impact on the health of children and adolescents
A survey conducted by the Scuola di Cittadinanzattiva network among teachers and administrators of schools at all levels, regarding the impact on the health conditions of students, found that 42% of school buildings had traces of dampness, while 33% showed ‘waterfalls’ of water leakage. Additionally, 22% of those interviewed believed that the air quality in classrooms was poor due to mold and inadequate heating systems. With climate change, temperatures have become extreme in both directions, further increasing threats to the health and safety of those who frequent these buildings. According to RAND Europe, Italian children miss approximately 153,538 days of school a year due to dampness and mold.
What do we gain with thermal insulation?
Approximately 7.3 million Italian students will benefit from targeted interventions to insulate buildings, modernize heating and cooling systems and improve ventilation. The economic benefits will also be significant. Italy could gain over €3 billion directly and indirectly by 2060 by reducing exposure to moisture and mould. When all countries of the European Union are calculated, this figure will reach 40 billion Euros. Looking at the savings in healthcare costs thanks to reductions in medical visits and hospital admissions for respiratory diseases, the EU will recover its investments in renovating the most inefficient and energy-intensive buildings in just a year and a half.
Continue reading on Today.it
Source: Today IT
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
