Info no. 3 / June 2020

Bad air and acoustics “If you are very strong, you must also be very kind!” reduce capacity for learning Field study on air quality and acoustics in schools

The approximately 35,000 While ventilation systems ensure mainstream schools in consistently good air quality Dear Readers, are all very different when it comes regardless of the external conditions, I learnt the saying “If you are very to facilities and the extent to which manually opening windows is often strong, you must also be very kind” buildings have been renovated. insufficient due to unfavourable from the Pippi Longstocking series In order to shine a light on the current external conditions – too loud, too when I was a child. This phrase has stayed with me and status quo in schools in the state of hot, too much fine dust, etc. given me pause ever since – right North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, For example, the field study found up to this day. This is because it Heinz Trox Wissenschafts gGmbH that the CO content in classrooms, sparks some questions that are not 2 particularly easy to answer: what do conducted metrological studies on which is an indicator of indoor air “strong” and “kind” mean and why do air quality, thermal comfort, room quality, is often at unacceptable levels those who are “strong” also need to be “kind”? acoustics and lighting in a total in terms of hygiene when the only In my opinion, the claim made in of 48 classrooms at 23 schools in ventilation is from open windows. this sentence is extremely pertinent Aachen and Neukirchen-Vluyn from Excessive values can also impair and applies to individuals as well as to corporations and foundations: April to July 2019. students' ability to concentrate with great power comes great This involved investigating buildings and perform and can also have a responsibility – not only a responsibility to contribute to good that have been renovated as well as negative impact on health. causes, but also to produce good- those that have not. It also included Shortcomings were also frequently quality products or services. This is some classrooms that have already identified when it came to room much easier from a position of power. And those who are strong should been fitted with automatic ventilation acoustics. For example, excessive also be grateful for their strength and technology. reverberation times which demonstrate this through their actions – by “being kind”. It is certainly not an exaggeration to say that both the Heinz Trox Foundation and the affiliated TROX GROUP are made strong by the committed people who work there. And this enables the foundation to consistently perform and promote acts of kindness, especially in times of crisis such as we are seeing now due to the coronavirus. You can read about some specific examples of what causes the foundation supports in more detail and how it does this in this newsletter. I would like to thank everyone who makes the kind actions of the foundation possible and helps to shape this action. Air with low oxygen levels Yours sincerely, results in tiredness. Hans Fleisch Photo: Designed by Freepik Continued from page 1: impede voice communication were recorded. In a follow-up project, three classrooms are now being equipped with innovative ventilation technology, Mobile acoustic absorbers and optimised measuring lighting. Any resulting positive effects trolley to on the learning environment will be record air HTx gGmbH Burgholz, Photo: Tobias quality recorded by taking measurements and conducting user surveys. In parallel to this, a BIM model is being created for common classroom configurations, which significantly reduces the planning effort required Graphic: HTx gGmbH for future school renovation measures. Naturally ventilated classroom with insufficient ventilation behaviour

Dedicated to well-being

As part of its project work, in 2019, the Heinz Trox Foundation continued to fund individual charitable causes and social institutions at the TROX GmbH German locations, just as its founder did over two decades ago. You can read about five examples below.

Learning in the “green classroom”

Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany – On the plot of the Gerhard-Tersteegen-Schule school in Neukirchen-Vluyn in Germany, there is a garden with a small pond hidden behind some walls. A sixth of this space is maintained by a working group at the school as a mini school garden. The rest of the site is currently heavily overgrown. The school plans to bring its students closer to indigenous nature in the future by completely redesigning the garden. Thanks to donations from the Heinz Trox Foundation and active support from the Tu-Was cooperative, a “green classroom” will also be created in the next three years. This will involve creating a paved area with seating, a “box garden with raised beds”, a “spiral-shaped herb garden”, a “worm café” compost heap and an “adventure trail”. The intention is to leave part of the garden, known as the The plan of landscape architect Britta Kleiber gives an impression of what the area at the Gerhard-Tersteegen-Schule ”ark”, deliberately untouched to show the children how school will look like in the future. nature develops without any human intervention. Greater mobility for senior citizens in wheelchairs

Isselburg-Anholt, Germany – The St. Franziskus Catholic church in Isselburg operates two nursing homes, one in Isselburg, one in Anholt. Many of the senior citizens who live there have no relatives, or at least none

Photo: Tobias Burgholz, HTx gGmbH Burgholz, Photo: Tobias living in the area, and therefore have hardly any social contact beyond the nursing home. This is particularly the case for residents who are unable to participate in public life due to mobility issues. This is why the church community decided to purchase four special e-bikes in 2019 to enable volunteers to

take nursing home residents who are dependent on Photo: Eva Albers a wheelchair out on bike rides. This means that these Official handover of the first two special e-bikes senior citizens can now explore their town and truly This purchase was possible thanks to a five-figure experience how life there is constantly changing. donation from the Heinz Trox Foundation.

A bus for the youth handball team

Bad Hersfeld, Germany – The with transportation. A donation from Turnverein Bad Hersfeld (TVH) the Heinz Trox Foundation, which sports club has been able to take will cover the leasing instalments, its youth handball team to training maintenance costs and TÜV and matches using the club's own certification fees for four years, minibus since January 2020. Before made it possible for the club to this, the club relied on parents and purchase the bus. The fuel costs are

other club members to help out being covered by the club. Photo: Kristina Marth Excited young handball players

A fire service vehicle for attendees of the Zipfelmütze Kindergarten

Goch, Germany – A large fire service jeep is the new talk of the playground at the Zipfelmütze Kindergarten in Pfalzdorf. The Heinz Trox Foundation made this purchase possible. The fact that the Heinz Trox Foundation fully financed the play equipment for under three-year-olds was a real stroke of luck for the Zipfelmütze Kindergarten. “We are overwhelmed and very grateful,” says Eva Fourné, Facility Manager at the Kindergarten on Kirchstraße in Goch-Pfalzdorf, “Our little ones already love playing with, on and around the jeep, and the

Photo: Elke Nagelschmitz summer is yet to come.” Paul Schwarz (Heinz Trox Foundation), Eva Fourné Integration into the outdoor space is an essential part of the (Zipfelmütze Facility Manager) and Andrea Wunderle (Group Leader) with some children from the U3 class concept for the rural kindergarten, which is celebrating its 25th welcome the fire service jeep to Pfalzdorf. anniversary this year. “App in die Mitte” project Promoting social participation for older people Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany – The Mission town of Neukirchen-Vluyn currently Moving APP statement Urban Open Climate-friendly in public Digitization has just under 28,000 residents development development space mobility spaces and around 22% of these are over concept concept concept Volunteering 65 years old. With a view to this „Healthy City“ Bicycle- growing target group, the town, with Inclusion Housing friendly Participation Globally concept industry action financial support from the Heinz plan in society Trox Foundation, wants to have an app developed in the coming years Graphic: City of Neukirchen-Vluyn that will give its older citizens the senior citizens and when and where local information platform available opportunity to find out about the these are taking place, whether the online that pools all of these services. services on offer in the city on a respective venues are accessible and The so-called “App in die Mitte” digital platform specially designed have toilets and much more. (central app) is intended to change with them in mind: where they can There are already lots of services this. The programme with the same find doctors, pharmacies, therapists, aimed at the older generation, but name intends to create a large virtual shops, administrative bodies, etc., many senior citizens are not aware marketplace that is assigned real which events local associations and of them because to date there has locations where people can go to social institutions are offering for been no relevant age-appropriate meet others.

2019 donation overview

Charitable donations (2019 recipients) SMOG e.V. (campaign against violence in schools) Neukirchen-Vluyn Anholt Zeitung in der Schule (Zisch) (newspapers in schools project) AWO – Willy Könen senior centre St. Elisabeth Haus retirement and nursing home Academic donations (2019 recipients) SELK collegium vocale (Independent Evangelical Bocholt Caritas association Lutheran Church singing group) DRK, , “GrenzenLos” Kleve vocational college DLRG Ortsgruppe (local branch of the German Life (German Red Cross project) Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin, Prof. Finke Saving Association) Kath. Grundschule Anholt “Frühstart” Heidelberg Laureate Forum Foundation (scholarships) Neukirchen evangelical church (breakfast club at Anholt Catholic primary school) Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Albers JSG school friends' association Kath. Kita St. Bartholomäus nursery Gerhard-Tersteegen-Schule school friends' Catholic public library, Isselburg Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Kauffeld association Kulturring Isselburg cultural network Munich University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Renner Kita Aktiv nursery TTV Rees-Groin 1949 e.V. (table tennis club) Leipzig University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Hartmann Kita St. Antonius nursery friends' association Goch HTx Wissenschafts gGmbH Kinderheimat children's home “I-Pünktchen” family centre Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Wolfenbüttel, Musikschule Neukirchen-Vluyn (music school) “Zipfelmütze” Kindergarten Prof. Schnieder Neukirchener Erziehungsverein Goch municipal administration (ASTRA youth centre) TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences (Cologne), (charitable association) Prof. Henne Neukirchen-Vluyn's “App in die Mitte” project Bad Hersfeld Mittelhessen University of Applied Sciences, Gießen, Stadtbücherei (BNE), friends' association Bad Hersfelder Festspiele (theatre festival) Prof. Winkler (public library's education for sustainable InfoKom MSO friends' association development initiative) Jugendhandball-Förderverein (youth handball friends' Westphalian University of Applied Sciences SV Neukirchen sports association, swimming division association) Gelsenkirchen, Prof. Fieberg Tafel Neukirchen-Vluyn food bank Neuenstein ski club WIFU Foundation, Witten (Institute for Family Business)

Imprint Published by: Brigitta Trox Contact Phone: +49(0)2845 202315 HEINZ TROX FOUNDATION Mathias Brauner Heinz Trox Foundation Fax: +49(0)2845 202544 Marlehn Thieme Ms Gabriele Werner E-mail: Foundation Council Heinrich-Trox-Platz [email protected] Prof. Hans Fleisch, Board of Directors of the 47504 Neukirchen-Vluyn, www.heinz-trox-foundation.com/en Chairman and person responsible Foundation Germany according to the German Press Law Paul Schwarz, Chairman Prof. Stephan Schauhoff, Frank Lübbering Deputy Chairman Volker van Kempen