Indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools significantly impacts occupant health and academic performance, especially in naturally ventilated (NV) classrooms, where CO₂ levels are often elevated. This systematic review synthesises findings from 125 studies, examining CO₂ as an indicator of ventilation rates (VRs) and its impact on IAQ, health, and academic performance in NV primary school classrooms. This analysis highlights seasonal and temporal variations in CO₂ concentrations, revealing a median CO₂ concentration of 1487 ppm across 2444 classrooms, with 81% exceeding the recommended 1000 ppm threshold. Influencing factors include VR, occupant density, generation rates, and occupant behaviours. Increased VRs consistently lowered CO₂ levels and enhanced IAQ. CO₂ concentrations correlated with particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, bioeffluents, microbial concentrations, and bacteria and fungi levels, but not with traffic-related pollutants like NO₂, which is associated with asthma prevalence. Elevated CO₂ levels consistently correlated with fatigue, headaches, respiratory symptoms, reduced academic performance and absenteeism, suggesting potential socio-economic benefits of increased VRs. However, effective IAQ management requires balancing ventilation with considerations of thermal comfort, noise, and outdoor pollutants. The findings highlight the need for standardised IAQ indices and CO₂ monitoring protocols, offering insights for future research, intervention design, and investment aimed at enhancing classroom environments.

Journal of Traffic and Logistics Engineering (JTLE)

The research project discussed in this paper is driven by the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) need to reduce operational energy and carbon by promoting the adoption of the Active Building (AB) concept for UK building projects. The AB concept offers a practical solution to reducing the operational energy use and carbon emissions of buildings by using emerging technologies applied to architectural design; thus, helping the UK meet its decarbonisation targets and, consequently, helping to combat the global problem of climate change. The aim of the project was to design and implement an AB Protocol with an AB Toolkit, to provide a knowledge base and sustainable architectural design guidance to aid the design of ABs. The AB Toolkit was tested, evaluated, and refined by engaging with architectural designers in the UK through focus groups (FGs) that combined data collection with knowledge dissemination—a method which provided a contribution to the continuous professional development (CPD) of architectural designers in the UK, while aiding the research project. The FG data proved the original hypothesis that a whole host of measures are needed to support the adoption of the AB concept (as outlined in the AB Protocol), but that some design guidance was needed initially to enable the development of other supporting measures. Therefore, the main output of this research project was the development of a structured approach to enable architectural designers and other built-environment professionals to adopt the AB concept for the delivery of net zero operational energy buildings, supporting the aims of the SPECIFIC Innovation and Knowledge Centre, Swansea University, and the Active Building Centre (ABC). The method of data collection developed, and the structured approach to enabling the adoption of a new concept outlined, could be beneficial to other researchers.

The results from three case study dwellings from Swansea, UK, which received retrofitted external wall insulation (EWI) through the first phase of the ARBED scheme in Wales as part of the Welsh Government's carbon emission reductions and fuel poverty policy objectives are explored. Energy consumption, costs and carbon emission data are presented for each case study, which was collected as part of a doctoral research project undertaken in collaboration with two housing associations in Swansea, Wales. This data is analysed to assess alleviation of fuel poverty, reductions in carbon emissions and the payback of the intervention; which was installed across Wales as part of the ARBED scheme. Furthermore, unintended benefits are also discussed and the implications for further dwellings receiving EWI

Journal of Anthropology and Archaeology is a peer-reviewed international journal, which publishes original papers promoting theoretical, methodological and empirical developments in the discipline of socio-cultural anthropology.