It used to be OK - late September - early October has usually been the hottest time of the year here in the Bay Area, but we'd' have 2-3 days in the high 90s or low 100s and then the marine layer would come in and cool things down. So far, we've had high temps since Monday, and more predicted for next week. And there have been several stretches of hot weather this summer.

I don't have AC, and it used to be OK because temps would drop at night. But I don't think schools - or people who live in apartments - can keep their windows open all night and get a good cross breeze to bring the inside temps down. Ideally, I'd like to see us build schools that are more in tune with their environments (i.e., what works in Bakersfield won't necessarily work by the coast) but we also need a shorter term solution

Last edited Sun Apr 13, 2025, 02:58 PM - Edit history (1)

This is a textbook example of environmental injustice—where the communities most vulnerable to climate impacts also face the greatest barriers to mitigation. And without statewide data on school HVAC conditions, it's hard to advocate effectively for targeted funding.

Children in hot weather with no ductless heating and cooling systems in the classes, and often low-income school districts, are paying the price for decades of underinvestment. Vomiting, cramps, and lethargy shouldn’t be part of anyone’s school day, let alone the daily reality for thousands of kids. It’s unacceptable that in one of the wealthiest states in the country, schools are forced to choose between keeping the lights on and keeping classrooms safe and cool.

Programs like CalSHAPE are a start, but they’re clearly not enough—and now that it’s closed to new applications, many schools are left stranded. The fact that Governor Newsom vetoed a plan for a climate-resilient schools master plan, and that there's no statewide tracking of HVAC conditions, only compounds the problem.