With summer approaching and temperatures on the rise, The British School of Barcelona has launched its Cool & Conscious campaign – a school-wide initiative designed to help our community stay comfortable in the heat while reducing our environmental impact.

This timely campaign has a simple but essential aim: to ensure students and staff enjoy a cool, productive learning environment without compromising our commitment to sustainability. Air conditioning plays a crucial role in keeping classrooms comfortable and focused – but it’s also one of the largest contributors to energy use during the warmer months.

The campaign is part of a broader sustainability review across all BSB campuses, led by Clare Garey, founder of Sustainability at School. Since September, focus groups with eco councillors, students, staff, and parents, along with surveys, have helped shape a shared initiative. The result is a unified campaign that not only raises awareness but also empowers students to take meaningful action in caring for the planet.

The Air Conditioning Paradox
As the weather gets warmer, the use of air conditioning rises too. There are currently around two billion AC units in operation worldwide, a figure expected to nearly triple by 2050. AC use already accounts for 7% of global electricity and 3% of greenhouse gas emissions – and the numbers are rising exponentially.

In schools like ours, thoughtful aircon use can dramatically reduce unnecessary energy consumption while keeping students cool and ready to learn. That’s where Cool & Conscious comes in.

Staying Cool and Conscious
The heart of the Cool & Conscious initiative is an easy-to-follow four-point checklist to stay comfortable while being mindful of the environment:

  1. Keep windows and doors closed when the AC is on.
  2. Turn off lights and screens when leaving the room.
  3. Set the temperature between 21 and 23 °C – and don’t lower it.
  4. Switch off the AC at the end of the day.

Students are also encouraged to dress appropriately for summer, stay hydrated, wear caps and sunscreen during playtimes, and opt for fans where possible, as they consume significantly less energy than AC units.

Whole-School Impact That Matters
The campaign builds on our broader sustainability goals. So far this year, BSB has achieved a notable reduction in energy use up to March, including an impressive 18% decrease in energy intensity (kWh per student). The aim is to continue reducing overall energy consumption by the end of the school year – and we’re on track. But every effort counts.

To launch the campaign, students and staff took part in a ‘cool’ non-uniform day on Monday, 5th May. From sunglasses and sun hats to tropical prints and lightweight fabrics, the school was alive with sustainable summer spirit. The optional €1 donation collected that day supported the World Wildlife Fund – a global leader in conservation and a fitting partner for a campaign focused on climate-conscious behaviour.

Additional assemblies across all key stages helped spread awareness and reinforced how small, everyday actions from every individual can create real impact. We encourage our families to build these long-term habits at home, too.

Together, we’re proving that smart choices can make a big difference – one degree at a time.