ENVIRONMENTAL COMFORT IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS: AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION OF USERS Núbia BERNARDI and Doris C. C. K. KOWALTOWSKI 1 State University of Campinas,UNICAMP, School of Civil Engineering, Dep. of Architecture and Construction SUMMARY The purpose of this research is the investigation of behavior, reactions and participation of users in the school environment in relation to environmental comfort conditions (thermal, illumination, acoustics and functionality). A case study was undertaken in school buildings in the region of the city of Campinas, SP, Brazil. The methodology adopted was based on field observations of technical aspects of the school environment and of user interference with the classroom space. Technical measurements of environmental comfort conditions were undertaken and questionnaires were applied to users. The results of this case study showed little interference by users in favor of their own comfort. Lack of knowledge about what action can improve comfort can be attributed to the low participation results. To some extent perceived status by students prohibiting interference with comfort conditions is also seen as a factor in participation levels. Environmental awareness was found to be low and should be stimulated by environmental comfort education. KEY WORDS: Environmental Comfort, Environmental Awareness, School Buildings Conference Theme: Environmental Perception Evaluation in Educational Spaces INTRODUCTION School buildings create, in part, what is termed the learning environment. Students’ awareness of this environment plays an important role on learning productivity, as do the comfort conditions of the learning space. Schools, subject to norms, should offer safety, accessibility and comfort to users. Comfort conditions in the environment affect users directly in physiologic and psychological aspects and consequently act on the performance of activities. Comfort problems should be considered those related to functionality, thermal, illumination and acoustics conditions. Unfavorable conditions of comfort in schools, such as high temperatures, excessive noise, inadequate illumination, excessive occupation density in the classroom and finally inadequate equipment in relation to age groups can have negative influences on the students' school performance and can cause health problems (KOWALTOWSKI et al, 2001). Environmental comfort is primarily determined by the design of a building, the activity exercised by the users in the place and, specifically in relation to thermal comfort, the clothes used by the occupants. The individuals' behavior in relation to his environment and the spontaneous adjustment to the environment to improve comfort must also be considered an important factor in the attainment of ideal conditions. The concepts of environmental 1 CP 6021, Campinas, SP, Brasil, 13084-971,e-mail:doris@fec.unicamp.br