Beat the Heat! Heat information campaign at h_da

High temperatures in summer and heat waves lead to health problems and can therefore have a negative impact on the quality of teaching and the quality of employees' work.

The physical consequences of heat can include sweating, dehydration and circulatory problems. These lead to reduced performance. More serious consequences of heat can be cramps, heat exhaustion or even heat stroke and death.

Heat also has an impact on our psyche. It leads to tiredness, exhaustion, concentration problems and increased irritability, along with a lower stress tolerance.

In addition, at high temperatures, more harmful ground-level ozone is produced due to intense sunlight, which puts additional strain on the body. This can lead to difficult breathing or irritation of the mucous membranes, for example.

There are various ways to protect yourself from the heat. The most effective are structural and technical measures that improve the quality of outdoor and indoor spaces. Window shutters, awnings and trees, for example, have a shading effect, green spaces and plants transpire and thus cool their surroundings and an energy-efficient renovation insulates the building not only from the cold in winter, but also from the heat in summer. However, it is also important to keep climate protection in mind when implementing construction measures, which is why installing air conditioning systems across the board, for example, is not a solution. Air conditioning systems would increase energy consumption, resulting in more emissions that would further contribute to climate change. In addition, air conditioning systems produce waste heat, which would further increase the outside temperature on campus. (Adaptation to climate change, Federal Environment Agency 2025)

The implementation of structural and technical measures to combat heat is a task for h_da, which it is tackling with its climate adaptation concept. However, these measures will take time to implement, so it is all the more important that we adapt our behavior to the changing climate now.

Personal measures

• Take care of yourself. A rapid change in temperature or prolonged heat waves are a strain on the body.
• Only ventilate early in the morning or at night
• Keep windows and external shading closed during the day
• Drink enough (at least 2 liters, on hot days 3 liters per day!)
• Adjust your diet (e.g. eat as light and fresh as possible; avoid alcohol)
• Avoid physical work during the hottest time of day (11 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
• Suitable clothing and sun protection
• Cool parts of the body (e.g. forehead, wrists)
• Pay attention to body signals.

Recommendations for behavior in the heat during exams

• In tiered lecture halls, the temperature is highest at the top of the room, so it is advisable to sit further down.
• Take plenty of drinks with you, especially water.
• Wear light clothing.
• Go to the exam well-rested.
• Really use breaks to relax.

Personal measures

• Take care of yourself. A rapid change in temperature or prolonged heat waves are a strain on the body.
• Drink enough (at least 2 liters, on hot days 3 liters per day!)
• Adjust your diet (e.g. eat as light and fresh as possible; avoid alcohol)
• Avoid physical work during the hottest part of the day (11 am - 6 pm)
• Suitable clothing and sun protection
• Cool parts of the body (e.g. forehead, wrists)
• Pay attention to body signals.

Organizational measures for courses

• Only ventilate early in the morning or at night
• Keep windows and external shading closed during the day
• Electrical appliances produce additional heat. Switch off all devices that are not required, including lighting.
• Switch to online teaching as required.
• If possible, move face-to-face events to cooler indoor or outdoor locations.
• Give your students “heat-free” and postpone the event to a cooler time.
• Above 30°C, measures must be taken to remedy the situation; above 35°C, classrooms may no longer be used as such. Data loggers for verifying this temperature can be borrowed from HSE sicherheit@h-da.de.

Personal measures

• Take care of yourself. A rapid change in temperature or prolonged heat waves are a strain on the body.
• Drink enough (at least 2 liters, on hot days 3 liters per day!).
• Adjust your diet (e.g. eat as light and fresh as possible; avoid alcohol).
• Avoid physical work during the hottest part of the day (11 am - 6 pm).
• Suitable clothing and sun protection.
• Cool parts of the body (e.g. forehead, wrists).
• Pay attention to body signals.

Organizational measures for the workplace

• Only ventilate early in the morning or at night
• Keep windows and external shading closed during the day
• Electrical appliances produce additional heat. Switch off all devices that are not needed, including lighting.
• On very hot days, shift working hours to cooler off-peak times if possible in the work area.
• From a room temperature of 30°, measures (see room temperature checklist) must be taken to remedy the situation; from 35°, the location is no longer suitable as a place to work.
• Carry out temperature measurements at the workplace using the room temperature checklist. Data loggers for verifying temperatures can be borrowed from HSE at sicherheit@h-da.de.

In order to avoid a further increase in heat, we as a university and as individuals must take climate protection measures. The most effective measure for the university to protect the climate is to save energy by adapting usage behavior, energy-efficient refurbishment and modernizing heating systems. For example, A10 is being renovated to make it more energy efficient. We can also do a lot individually:

An initial selection of personal climate protection measures

• Give preference to plant-based food and avoid meat
• Avoid air travel
• Use buses, trains, bicycles and walking to get around
• Consume more consciously; buy less new, more used
• Political commitment to climate protection