The CO₂-Meter Mandatory in Education and LuxBalance's Practical Solution

CO₂-Meter Mandatory in Primary schools

On November 14, 2024, the then State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science, Mariëlle Paul, informed (Dutch pdf only) the House of Representatives about the introduction of a CO₂-meter mandatory in primary education. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science strives for a healthy indoor climate in schools because this is essential for the optimal development and learning performance of students.

The mandatory requirement applies to all school buildings in primary education, including primary, secondary, and special education. The rule is laid down in the Buildings and Living Environment Decree (Bbl) and took effect on July 1, 2025.

Jille Kuipers, Innovation Manager at LuxBalance, explains the impact of the mandatory requirement: "It's good that the government has formalized this," says Kuipers. Research showed that despite school boards already receiving funding for their purchase through the lump sum in 2022, far from all schools had CO₂ meters. The government therefore deemed the requirement necessary to ensure that every classroom now actually has an instrument to measure air quality.

The 2022 lump sum scheme was a €17 million subsidy for the purchase of CO₂ meters. The requirement applies to both existing school buildings and new construction.

The requirement requires that a CO₂ meter be installed in every classroom, allowing teachers to immediately see when ventilation is needed by opening the windows. While this requirement was already included in the Building Decree for new construction and renovated primary school buildings, it is now also being added to all other, often outdated, school buildings.

A significant relaxation for existing buildings is that CO₂ meters no longer need to operate exclusively on mains voltage; meters with an electrical power supply are now permitted. This offers schools more flexibility in choosing equipment.

Kuipers adds: "This flexibility, choosing a battery-powered sensor like the RoomYou1, is crucial. It allows the sensor to be placed in the optimal location in the classroom, away from electrical outlets. The key is that the meter signals when CO₂-levels become too high, so that appropriate ventilation measures can be taken. Ultimately, a good indoor climate not only reduces absenteeism due to illness, but also significantly improves cognitive performance and test scores for students."

Former Minister of Education, Dennis Wiersma, submitted his justification (Dutch pdf only) and bill (Dutch pdf only) for the CO₂-meter requirement to the House of Representatives. This was accompanied by a report (Dutch pdf only) on the presence of CO₂-sensors in schools. This report showed that at the time, 40% of the school boards surveyed did not yet have the required meters, or did not have enough of them.

Why the Requirement Proves Necessary

The step towards this legal requirement is not arbitrary. The government's previous focus on expensive, mechanical ventilation (such as with the Frisse Scholen (Fresh Schools) subsidy) often led to high operating costs and deferred maintenance, which negated its effectiveness. By now focusing on reliable measurement, the responsibility for action is clearly placed with the users.

Previous reports revealed that, despite the previous budgets, the sense of urgency for purchasing the meters was not universally felt. The requirement should now ensure that the poor indoor climate figures—where up to 80% of classrooms in primary schools, and an even higher percentage in secondary schools, showed serious deficiencies—actually improve.

The CO₂-meter has thus become the indispensable tool for making the invisible measurable. In addition to the legal requirement, the Ruimte-OK Knowledge Center supports schools with the "Optimal Ventilation in the Classroom with the CO₂-meter" guide (Dutch pdf only)  and, through the Scholen op Koers (Schools on Course) program, they can consult an expert for advice on the indoor climate. A blog can be read here. The RoomYou1 offers the ideal foundation for this: an accurate, mobile, and visual monitor that enables schools to immediately comply with the new Bbl requirements.

Research by organizations such as the Municipal Health Service (GGD) and TNO has shown that the indoor climate in approximately 80% of primary schools exhibits serious deficiencies. At the same time, various studies emphasize the positive impact of good air quality: it can reduce absenteeism by up to 25% and improve learning performance by up to 23%.

The Previous Intervention: The 'Fresh Schools' Project Between 2009 and 2011, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science launched the 'Fresh Schools' project, for which a total of €165 million in subsidies was made available. The primary goal was to motivate schools—specifically €100 million for primary education and over €50 million for secondary education—to reduce their energy consumption and improve the indoor environment through insulation and ventilation. This financial injection resulted in the installation of expensive mechanical ventilation systems in a fraction of the schools, often complete with heat recovery. The cost per classroom could amount to thousands or even over ten thousand euros. A very expensive undertaking. However, the sustainability of this initiative proved to be seriously undermined by the failure to account for the high operating costs. The sophisticated systems require periodic and essential maintenance, such as the regular replacement of air filters. The lack of a structural budget for this maintenance led to a predictable consequence: over time, the systems no longer functioned properly, with the added effect of causing noise pollution. The focus on expensive, complex installations was a costly lesson, paving the way for the later, more pragmatic CO₂-meter requirement.
The updated Fresh Schools project effective since 2021 is updated and includes renewed criteria around light, air and temperature. The RoomYou1 is compliant to this guideline.

CO₂-Meter in Daycare centers

Daycare centers must also comply with the Building Decree. Furthermore, there are guidelines from the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) and the local Municipal Health Services (GGD). RIVM criteria for CO₂-meters in childcare: Ensure an easily readable CO₂ meter, which displays good/moderate/poor with a light and stores the data. Reset the settings every two weeks for correct readings and leave the meter outside or in an open window for a while. Place the CO₂ meter in a location without windows or doors and with ventilation. Keep the CO₂ level below 1000 ppm, preferably below 800 ppm. Keep a logbook of the measurements taken, including: name of the room, date of measurement, highest value of the week, and calibration time. Retain the data for at least 12 months.

For example, the Municipal Health Service (GGD) of Amsterdam states: In a room where several people are present, it is possible to monitor the air quality with a CO₂ indicator. Good air quality (with an outdoor background level of 400 ppm) requires a CO₂ level below 800 ppm; below 650 ppm indicates very good air quality. At concentrations above 1000 ppm, increased ventilation is required.

The Room You 1 sensor makes active CO₂ monitoring simple, accurate, and portable, so schools and daycare centers can meet all legal and health requirements. Schools can inquire for special school pricing by contacting your LuxBalance representative or contacting us via info@luxbalance.com