Teacher and student satisfaction with air conditioners in elementary schools: A coastal Taiwan case study

Learning efficiency is influenced by the learning environment. In Taiwan, coastal schools are primarily designed with natural ventilation systems. However, increasing summer temperatures driven by climate change and the urban heat island effect have impacted students’ thermal comfort. To address this, the Ministry of Education installed air conditioning systems in K–9 classrooms nationwide from 2020 and 2022. This study assessed the use and satisfaction of these systems among teachers and students in coastal southern Taiwan, characterized by high temperatures and low humidity. A questionnaire was developed to assess the use, quality, experiences, and satisfaction. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, chi-square tests, t -tests, and one-way analysis of variance were used to examine satisfaction and their associations with background variables. Results indicated high overall satisfaction, though it varied significantly by factors such as age, teaching experience, and classroom location. The experiment revealed that student satisfaction varied by background factors such as grade and gender. Energy-saving education notably improved satisfaction and reduced air conditioning usage, particularly among senior students. The findings underscore the importance of integrating policies and efficient technologies to balance comfort and energy conservation. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers in educational institutions, especially in hot and humid climates. • Air conditioning in coastal schools: Impact on learning environment. • Energy saving education reduced air conditioning usage and increased satisfaction. • Female students exhibited lower satisfaction, but usage did not differ by gender. • Higher-grade students were significantly less satisfied than lower-grade students. • Policy implications for efficient air conditioning in Taiwanese schools.