CHANGE - Co2 monitoring in scHools for digitAl aNd Green compEtences

<< Background >>The application of the green transition in the building sector requires balancing Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) with energy efficiency, as maintaining good IAQ might increase energy consumption. Tackling this challenge demands IAQ data collection from diverse environments to foster innovative solutions and equip professionals with digital skills and a sustainability-oriented mindset.The project “CO2 Monitoring in Schools for Digital and Green Competences” (CHANGE) introduces IAQ monitoring to VET students, connecting them and their teachers with applied research. While several CO2 monitoring stations are available on the market, in CHANGE students build CO2 monitoring stations using commercial components and open-source software, sharing monitoring data on public repositories. The pathway makes use of practical activities to integrate environmental topics like indoor comfort, climate change and planned obsolescence with digital skills, such as Python coding and 3D-printing.CHANGE aligns with EU policies through open data practices (FAIR principles) and by encouraging behavioral changes in building management. Its tools and data ensure long-term impact, scalability, and continued use, supporting EU green and digital transition goals.<< Objectives >>The CHANGE consortium, made up of a research center and four VET schools, joined expertise to reach the following objectives:- Develop a didactic pathway on IAQ monitoring which combines theoretical and practical sections, including monitoring station assembly, CO2 monitoring in classrooms, and WebApp development in JavaScript.- Make the didactic material in different languages available upon request via the project website.- Establish a FAIR-compliant repository to host the collected data, promoting open data principles aligned with European research policies.- Expand teachers’ competences on IAQ-related topics.- Provide Schools with didactic CO2 monitoring stations.- Enhance students' digital and green skills, aligning with citizenship principles and job market demands.- Increase students’ communication skills by having them present the pathway and results in public events.- Engage IAQ experts and the civil society by disseminating the project results within professional gatherings and science outreach events.- Encourage further collaborations, by maintaining the project infrastructure active after the project end.<< Implementation >>CHANGE activities covered different aspects:The OPTIMIZATION OF THE EXISTING TRAINING TOOLS covered both the didactic material (slides, videos, instructions) and the project infrastructure (stations, WebApp and data repository).TRAINING WORKSHOPS were realized both for Teachers inside the Consortium and open to new Schools in order to enroll a huge number of teachers and students and optimize the Pathway according to their feedback.The TEACHING ACTIVITIES were centered on the students, who first attended classes, and then conducted continuous CO2 monitoring experiments, made reports, and disseminated the project results in outreach events and peer education.BEST PRACTICES were SHARED with decision makers, including IAQ and education specialists; these groups were selected according to the priority of increasing VET students' employability either by creating contacts with professionals and by sharing results with other educators. More than 400 students, 60 teachers, and 15 researchers were invoved.The Students presented the project in 15 events, enhancing their engagement and communication skills and promoting their Schools in their communities. Specific aspects were presented at scientific conferences and HVAC workshops.<< Results >>DEVELOPMENT OF DIDACTIC MATERIALS: created and released educational resources in English and project languages, including editable slides, videos, tutorials, instructions, questionnaires, and interactive games (kahoot, escape room). All partners contributed by sharing ideas and providing feedback. PROJECT INFRASTRUCTURE: developed and optimized infrastructure for data collection, visualization, analysis, and management, i.e. 60 CO2 monitoring stations, a WebApp, and an open data repository, all designed for sustainability and openness. The infrastructure hosted around 60k hours of CO2 monitoring. ACCREDITATION: CHANGE was accredited on the Italian Ministry of Education SOFIA portal. TEACHER INVOLVEMENT: 65 teachers took part in the training activities. PARTICIPATION: 466 students were engaged by Partner Schools and 290 in non-partner Schools. Presentation in 15 public events and peer education activities addressed to younger students. SPECIALIST DISSEMINATION: presentation and stakeholder engagement in 10 specialist events. DISSEMINATION OUTCOMES: guidelines, demonstrators, videos, photo galleries, conference paper.