Lüften, the German practice of opening windows to ventilate homes and buildings, is becoming increasingly recognized in the United States. This age-old custom, designed to shift stale air and ensure proper ventilation, has been mandatory in some leases in Germany, reflecting its significance in maintaining healthy indoor environments. Lüften eliminates the potential for mould accumulation while enhancing the health of spaces and occupants — a win-win for people and places.
The practice of Lüften began to gain traction in the U.S. in 2021. More people started to see its value and its benefits. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has highlighted Lüften as “one of the cheapest and most effective ways” to mitigate the spread of Covid-19, reinforcing its relevance during the pandemic. In Germany, this practice has long been the bedrock of everyday life. As with the rest of the world, Americans are just starting to get familiar with it.
Lüften encompasses two main techniques: Stoßlüften and Querlüften. The practice of stoßlüften, or shock ventilation, involves opening multiple windows fully for a few minutes. This method allows air to come in at high speeds. This process usually only takes a few minutes, as one recently established German foreign ministry Instagram account has described. Cross-ventilating, or querlüften, with Drehkippfenster, a type of tilting window, increases airflow. This approach is highly effective at distributing new, filtered air throughout the whole space, maximizing ventilation benefits.
In spite of Lüften health benefits, Lüften can be a contentious issue in German classrooms—even among Germans. A few people are passionate promoters of Lüften. They know that ventilation is crucial to protecting indoor air quality even if they live in buildings with adequate ventilation.
In Germany, there exists a humorous retort to those who hesitate to ventilate during colder months: “Many people have frozen to death, but no one has ever died from a bad smell.” In Danish this is reflected in the saying, “Luftet ud,“ meaning to air something out.
The adoption of Lüften in America would be a testament to increasing understanding around the link between indoor air quality and health. Some Americans are adopting the practice as part of their daily routines, often sharing phrases like “Open the Drehkippfenster, bitte, it’s time to querlüften” among friends and family.
Lüften has become a trend outside of Germany. Yet over time it has developed into an important cultural phenomenon, moving beyond being merely a useful social practice. Many now consider it a health essential. Even in adapting Lüften to life in America, the positive impacts on indoor air quality and health will undoubtedly be substantial.