SMART Renovation – Modular Renovation Approach for Classrooms

The SMART renovation approach of the Heinz Trox Foundation targets public schools, municipal school authorities, and non-profit educational institutions throughout Germany whose classrooms are to be modernized in terms of energy efficiency and indoor climate. The goal is a modular renovation with a "plug-and-play" character, simultaneously optimizing four key dimensions of indoor quality: controlled ventilation with heat recovery to reduce CO₂, suspended acoustic ceilings to minimize reverberation, smart lighting concepts with daylight control and human-centric lighting, as well as sun protection solutions that prevent glare and overheating. Funding is provided for decentralized and centrally controlled ventilation systems, suspended acoustic ceilings and wall absorbers, sensors and control technology for lighting systems, as well as shading elements. Projects are selected based on evaluation criteria such as energy-saving potential, sustainability, and practical transferability, offering quickly implementable modular components that can be applied to additional classrooms.

For the application, a project description, a cost and financing plan, and proof of school authority sponsorship must be submitted. The Heinz Trox Foundation grants a subsidy for all planning and execution costs in existing buildings. Schools benefit from a significant reduction in CO₂ concentration and heating energy demand, noticeably improved speech intelligibility, glare-free, daylight-regulated lighting, and overall health-promoting learning conditions. Model projects that led to measurable improvements in a very short time serve as success examples and can act as blueprints for nationwide renovation measures.