Improving air quality depends not only on technical developments but also on the willingness of residents, local communities, and professional stakeholders to work together to protect the environment. As a partner organisation in the LIFE IP HungAIRy project, the Association for Everyday Culture (AMKE) played an active role in knowledge sharing, awareness-raising, and community engagement. Its activities focused on three main areas: promoting low-emission agricultural practices, raising public awareness, and providing professional support to the eco-manager network.

Putting Low-Emission Agricultural Practices into Action

Agriculture plays an important role in shaping air quality. Within the project, AMKE aimed to promote the wider adoption of low-emission agricultural technologies and good practices. The initiative helped introduce environmentally friendly farming methods and their air quality benefits to a broader community of farmers.

To achieve this, the Association identified and regularly updated information on available technologies and good practices while organising numerous professional presentations and workshops on the subject.

Knowledge sharing was further supported by scientific research. A paper on the air quality benefits of precision farming methods was published in the journal Hungarian Agricultural Research.

One of the project's key outcomes was the preparation of a replication and transferability plan supporting the wider application of low-emission agricultural technologies in Hungary, helping to facilitate the broader uptake of environmentally friendly solutions.

Raising Public Awareness for Cleaner Air

Reducing air pollution from household sources was one of the HungAIRy project's key objectives. To support this goal, AMKE carried out extensive awareness-raising and educational activities, placing particular emphasis on the use of solid fuels and the promotion of proper wood-burning practices.

Each year, residents in several municipalities had the opportunity to participate in the Environmentally Friendly Wood Burning Week, organised by the Association in cooperation with the National Association of Hungarian Tile Stove Builders, Fireplace Builders and Manufacturers (MACSOI) and the eco-managers. The events introduced participants to modern, environmentally friendly wood-burning solutions as well as heating appliances that provide greater efficiency while generating lower emissions.

During the 2025–2026 heating season, AMKE also played an active role in the Heat Without Smoke! campaign, supporting public awareness through presentations and educational materials. The campaign primarily targeted residents of smaller municipalities where solid-fuel heating is common and reached approximately 700 participants.

The presentations covered correct fire-lighting techniques, the factors influencing heating efficiency, and the health impacts of air pollution caused by improper combustion. The programme encouraged participants to make more informed decisions about their household heating practices and helped them better understand their own role in improving air quality.

As a continuation of the campaign, the Association is placing increasing emphasis on engaging younger audiences by organising educational presentations on clean air protection.

Supporting the Eco-Manager Knowledge Centre

Throughout the project, AMKE also played an important role in operating the Eco-Manager Knowledge Centre. Members of the nationwide eco-manager network serve as local air quality advisors, promoting environmentally conscious behaviour, supporting public information activities, and actively participating in local environmental initiatives.

The Knowledge Centre provided professional support for the eco-managers, facilitated networking, and ensured continuous knowledge exchange across the network. The Association organised training courses, developed educational materials, and contributed to the creation and operation of an online knowledge-sharing platform.

These activities strengthened both the professional expertise and communication skills of the eco-managers, enabling the network to support the project's objectives more effectively throughout Hungary.

Knowledge, Cooperation and Awareness-Raising

The experiences of the HungAIRy project demonstrate that improving air quality is not solely a matter of technological development. The widespread adoption of environmentally friendly solutions also depends on the active involvement of residents, professional communities, and local stakeholders. Through knowledge sharing, awareness-raising, and network building, AMKE has helped make clean air protection an integral part of everyday practice.