Guildford Living Lab engages the Guildford community on Cleaner Air Day

Bringing Clean Air Awareness to the Heart of Guildford
The GCARE team set up their stall in Guildford town centre, where visitors were invited to explore engaging displays and participate in educational activities. One of the highlights was an air pollution quiz that allowed people to assess their exposure to air pollution based on their daily commutes. This provided valuable insights into how individuals can reduce their exposure to pollutants.

Safer Kitchens and Cleaner Air at Home
As part of their ongoing commitment to clean air research, the GCARE team discussed their work on indoor air quality in kitchens. They showcased the Kitchen Guidance, a useful resource designed to educate the public on how different cooking methods and ventilation systems can impact indoor air quality. Visitors were able to take copies of the guide home with them, making it easier for individuals to improve the air quality in their own homes.

Green Infrastructure in Schools
One of the standout initiatives discussed during the event was GCARE’s work with schools , specifically a project at Sandfield Primary School in Guildford. Supported by the RECLAI M Network Plus, the project focuses on implementing green infrastructure to reduce air pollution in school environments, showcasing the potential for these solutions to improve air quality for children.

A Valuable Partnership for a Cleaner Future
Professor Prashant Kumar, founding director of the Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) and the founder of the Guildford Living Lab said “Local communities are central to our research, and we extend our gratitude to Guildford Borough Council for organising this exceptional initiative. It provided a unique platform for our team to empower the local community playfully through our GCARE resources  and fostered meaningful interactions with our Guildford MP, borough council leaders and many ZERO volunteers, enabling the exchange of ideas and collaborative research efforts. Our real-time monitors revealed a significant improvement in air quality when cars were absent from the city centre, highlighting that simple lifestyle changes—such as avoiding short car trips—can greatly reduce exposure for children and the public”, added Professor Kumar.
 

Collaboration and Future Initiatives
The Cleaner Air Day in Guildford was supported by numerous organisations, including Guildford Borough Council, Zero Carbon Guildford, and the Institute for Sustainability. The CoGreen Project, supported by the RECLAIM Network Plus, remains a pivotal initiative, promoting the use of green and blue infrastructures in towns like Guildford to address climate and air quality challenges.
Cleaner air and a sustainable future remain at the forefront of GCARE’s mission, with continued research through projects like CArE-Cities and CArE-Homes that focus on reducing air pollution in urban and domestic environments. The HeatCool project, funded by the Ove Arup Foundation RECLAIM Network Plus, GreenCities funded by the NERC are other testament to GCARE’s innovative approach to addressing climate resilience.

For more information on RECLAIM Network Plus, visit RECLAIM Network.