How do educational infrastructures signal their commitment to climate resilience? By creating schools that secure the future and protect their students. Here’s how climate-resilient schools are responding to the needs of the times.
The Vision for Resilient Schools
A climate-resilient school is designed to withstand and recover from harsh weather events while minimizing disruptions to education and supporting vulnerable communities by serving as a temporary shelter. These schools have upgrades that adapt to climate risks, create safe spaces from natural disasters, and reduce their reliance on traditional energy sources, which can contribute to long-term economic benefits.
School districts across the U.S. face the challenge of climate change’s most invasive impacts ever. A 2022 U.S. Government Accountability Office report found over half of public school districts were located in counties that faced major disasters from 2017 to 2019. Worsening severe weather events—such as tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes, and floods—have pushed decision-makers to rethink how educational buildings should be developed and renovated to answer the call of the times.
In addition to increasing safety, there are other health and educational benefits to making schools climate-resilient.
Concentration. An increase in carbon dioxide levels can decrease kids’ attention spans by 5%—as much as skipping breakfast. Naturally, cleaner air from purifiers and better heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems help reverse that effect.
Academic performance. Cooler environments also help children perform better. In a study of 75,000 high schoolers in New York, researchers found they were more likely to fail a test on a 90°F day than a 75°F day.
Well-being. Properly maintained plumbing ensures continuous access to water if the school becomes a shelter, and using heat-resilient materials ensures no volatile organic compounds are released into the indoor and outdoor environment that can impact air quality.
Climate Change-Proofing Communities
Climate-resilient buildings are no longer science fiction—they are an immediate necessity to address the challenges of the rapidly changing climate. As demonstrated by pioneer schools, investing in infrastructure that addresses pressing needs and withstands recurring extreme weather events is what communities need.
By enlarging the scope and application of these strategies into residential, commercial, healthcare, and transportation infrastructure, a sustainable future may be within reach. For architects and designers, this represents a challenge—and an opportunity—to incorporate resilience into every project.
