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The study uses four AC technologies to assess the energy performance—this is a case study of an educational building in Barranquilla, Colombia. The building currently has split AC technology high-energy consumers. Therefore, it was necessary to assess a replacement with more efficient technology. Because of the non-seasonal climate in the building location, one month of monitoring of energy consumption was the reference for developing an energy model for the building using EnergyPlus and DesignBuilder software. The model was applied to forecast the building energy performance of our more efficient AC technologies available in the Colombian market, and valuable according to building specifications (Split, VRF, VAV, and Chiller). Results show a reduction in energy consumption of approximately 30% with the technology change and 15% savings in life cycle costs (LCCs), even though the building is already considered to have a low energy consumption according to national regulations. The findings of this study underscore the potential for widespread applicability across all types of buildings, regardless of their energy consumption profile, be it low, medium, or high. This extensive applicability not only highlights the adaptability and versatility of the technology but also underscores its significance in achieving substantial energy savings and cost reductions across the entire building industry, contributing to a more sustainable and economically efficient future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The B building sector contributes to 40% of the carbon emissions in the atmosphere. Several studies show that high-performance MAN (Madrasah Aliyah Negeri) buildings contribute to reducing carbon emissions. This study discusses the evaluation of natural lighting in educational buildings, namely the MAN (Madrasah Aliyah Negeri) Cimahi building. This research was conducted using direct survey methods via measuring and simulating the natural lighting using Sefaira. The simulation results show that natural lighting in the building does not meet lumination standards. This article concludes that the addition of a roof overhang, windowed areas, façade elements, and shading strategies are all factors that can affect natural lighting in the MAN (Madrasah Aliyah Negeri) Cimahi building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of digital twins leads to the pathway toward intelligent buildings. Today, the overwhelming rate of data in buildings carries a high amount of information that can provide an opportunity for a digital representation of the buildings and energy optimization strategies in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. To implement a successful energy management strategy in a building, a data-driven approach should accurately forecast the HVAC features, in particular the indoor temperatures. Accurate predictions not only increase thermal comfort levels, but also play a crucial role in saving energy consumption. This study aims to investigate the capabilities of data-driven approaches and the development of a model for predicting indoor temperatures. A case study of an educational building is considered to forecast indoor temperatures using machine learning and deep learning algorithms. The algorithms' performance is evaluated and compared. The important model parameters are sorted out before choosing the best architecture. Considering real data, prediction models are created for indoor temperatures. The results reveal that all the investigated models are successful in predicting indoor temperatures. Hence, the proposed deep neural network model obtained the highest accuracy with an average RMSE of 0.16 °C, which renders it the best candidate for the development of a digital twin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earth-to-air heat exchangers (EAHEs) are widely used to reduce the indoor temperature and associated cooling energy demand of buildings. This study investigated the potential reduction in indoor temperatures via energy-efficient ventilation through EAHEs in an existing architectural campus building (ACB) with an energy-efficient renovated building envelope in the hot and humid climate of Karachi, Pakistan. The building information modeling (BIM) program Autodesk Revit was used to develop a virtual ACB BIM model. An EnergyPlus parametric analysis of the ACB BIM model in DesignBuilder facilitated quantification of the influences of operating parameters such as pipe installation depth and pipe diameter for EAHEs with similar total pipe lengths and air-exchange rates on the performance of the EAHEs during the cooling season. A 3 m deep and 0.1 m diameter pipe layout in open space significantly reduces indoor temperature via a specific duct layout in an exemplary ACB. The results show that a pipe diameter above 0.1 m is unsuitable because of the reduction in convective heat transfer due to the increase in the pipe's surface area and the decrease in pressure in the pipe. The findings of this study can be used to improve the indoor thermal comfort of buildings in climates with comparable properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As climate change concerns are rising rapidly, energy efficiency promotion and implementation could be sustainable solutions within energy transition. In this context, buildings, including educational ones, play an important role in reducing energy needs and promoting energy efficiency since they account for a significant share of the total energy consumption. As a case study for this research, the educational building of Kazakh-German University was selected. Following the national and international building standards, energy performance parameters were estimated. Current heat losses and performance have been estimated as baseline scenario settings. The impact of retrofitting measures on energy efficiency performance of the buildings under the four scenarios was calculated. Under the minor scenario, retrofitting interventions will lead to annual energy savings of 36.9 kWh/m2 and a 48% CO2 emission reduction, whereas under the major scenario, the annual energy savings will increase to 77.76 kWh/m2 and a nearly 82% CO2 emission reduction. The integration of a solar thermal system with capacity 400 kWh, assuming that the heat demand was reduced under the minor retrofitting scenario, can decrease heat energy consumption and CO2 emissions to 35%. As upfront costs of the energy efficiency measures are high, a carbon offset mechanism could facilitate the implementation of university building modernization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents an investigation of thermal energy consumption for heating in an educational building located in the north-eastern part of Poland in 2017–2020, after deep thermomodernization. An evaluation of the actual energy effects was made based on measurements carried out over a 4-year operational period. They were compared with the results of theoretical calculations included in the energy audit and an attempt was made to describe the reasons for the discrepancies. The planned and achieved economic efficiency indicators were assessed and the amount of reduction of pollutant emissions was determined. The performed analysis allowed for an assessment of the impact of deep thermomodernization in terms of reducing heat energy consumption for central heating purposes, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2, SOx, NOx and benzo(a)pyrene to the atmosphere. The implementation of thermomodernization in buildings led to savings of about 43% in terms of heat energy consumption for heating and a reduction in pollutant emissions. The theoretical savings based on the audit were 50.4%. The obtained results show that deep thermomodernization contributes to the improvement of energy and ecological efficiency in educational buildings, however, without the possibility of using subsidies, the investment is unprofitable. All the obtained results were discussed with the available literature sources and have been summarized with appropriate conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been challenging for designers to identify the appropriate design parameters that would reduce building energy consumption while achieving thermal comfort for building occupants. This study aims to determine the most important architectural building design parameters (ABDPs) that can increase thermal comfort and reduce energy use in educational buildings. The effect of 15 ABDPs in an Australian educational lecture theatre and their variabilities on energy consumption and students' thermal comfort for each parameter were analysed using Monte Carlo (MC) techniques. Two thousand simulations for every input parameter were performed based on the selected distribution using the Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) technique. Sensitivity analyses (SA) and uncertainty analyses (UA) were used to assess the most important ABDPs in terms of thermal discomfort hours and energy consumption. The study found that the ABDPs, such as cooling set-point temperatures and roof construction, significantly reduce the operative temperature by up to 14.2% and 20.0%, respectively. Consequently, these reductions could significantly shorten the thermal discomfort hours, thereby reducing energy consumption by 43.7% and 41.0%, respectively. The findings of this study enable building designers to identify which ABDPs have a substantial impact on thermal comfort and energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance of solar absorption cooling systems (SACS) is the focus of contemporary studies for decreasing the electrical energy consumption of buildings as the conventional cooling system of buildings is the main consumer of electrical energy during the summer season in hot–humid climates. In this study, the performance analysis of SACS by manipulating different flow schemes to the heat transfer fluid between different components of the system was performed. TRNSYS model of SACS in an education building located at the city of Peshawar (34.00 N, 71.54 E), Pakistan to encounter the peak cooling load of 108 kW (during operating hours of the building i.e., 09 a.m. to 05 p.m.) is developed and all possible flow schemes of heat transfer fluid between the system's components were compared. In Scheme-1 (S-1), a conventional flow pattern is used in which the hot water exiting from the chiller unit flows directly toward the stratified thermal storage unit. In Scheme-2 (S-2), the modified flow pattern of hot water exiting from the chiller unit will divert towards the auxiliary unit, if its temperature exceeds the temperature at the hot side outlet of the tank. Another modified flow pattern is Scheme-3 (S-3) in which the hot water leaving the chiller to keep diverting towards the auxiliary unit unless the outlet temperature from the hotter side of the tank would reach the minimum driving temperature (109 °C) of the chiller's operation. Simulations in TRNSYS evaluates the SACS's performance of all the schemes (conventional and modified) for the whole summer season and for each month. In general, S-3 with evacuated tube solar collector results in better primary energy saving with the smallest collector area per kilowatt for achieving 50% primary energy saving for the whole summer season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy consumption in the buildings is responsible for 26% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions where cooling typically accounts for over 50% of the total building energy use. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential for reducing the cooling systems' environmental footprint with applications of alternative renewable energy source. Three types of cooling systems, water cooled, air cooled and a hybrid solar-based air-conditioning system, with a total of six scenarios were designed in this work. The scenarios accounted for the types of power supply to the air-conditioning systems with electricity from the grid and with a solar power from highly integrated building photovoltaics (BIPV). Within and between these scenarios, systems' energy performances were compared based on energy modelling while the harvesting potential of the renewable energy source was further predicted based on building's detailed geometrical model. The results showed that renewable energy obtained via BIPV scenario could cover building's annual electricity consumption for cooling and reduce 140 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. The hybrid solar air-conditioning system has higher energy efficiency than the air cooled chiller system but lower than the water cooled system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is a challenge in educational buildings in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Adequate indoor air quality is essential to ensure that indoor spaces are safe for students and teachers. In fact, poor IEQ can affect academic performance and student comfort. This study proposes a framework for integrating occupants' feedback into the building information modelling (BIM) methodology to assess indoor environmental conditions (thermal, acoustic and lighting) and the individual airborne virus transmission risk during teaching activities. The information contained in the parametric 3D BIM model and the algorithmic environment of Dynamo were used to develop the framework. The IEQ evaluation is based on sensor monitoring and a daily schedule, so the results show real problems of occupants' dissatisfaction. The output of the framework shows in which range the indoor environmental variables were (optimal, acceptable and unacceptable) and the probability of infection during each lecture class (whether or not 1% is exceeded). A case study was proposed to illustrate its application and validate it. The outcomes provide key information to support the decision-making process for managing IEQ and controlling individual airborne virus transmission risks. Long-term application could provide data that support the management of ventilation strategies and protocol redesign.

Between the ages of 6 and 18, children spend between 30 and 42 h a week at school, mostly indoors, where indoor environmental quality is usually deficient and does not favor learning. The difficulty of delivering indoor air quality (IAQ) in learning facilities is related to high occupancy rates and low interaction levels with windows. In non-industrialized countries, as in the cases presented, most classrooms have no mechanical ventilation, due to energy poverty and lack of normative requirements. This fact heavily impacts the indoor air quality and students' learning outcomes. The aim of the paper is to identify the factors that determine acceptable CO2 concentrations. Therefore, it studies air quality in free-running and naturally ventilated primary schools in Chile, aiming to identify the impact of contextual, occupant, and building design factors, using CO2 concentration as a proxy for IAQ. The monitoring of CO2, temperature, and humidity revealed that indoor air CO2 concentration is above 1400 ppm most of the time, with peaks of 5000 ppm during the day, especially in winter. The statistical analysis indicates that CO2 is dependent on climate, seasonality, and indoor temperature, while it is independent of outside temperature in heated classrooms. The odds of having acceptable concentrations of CO2 are bigger when indoor temperatures are high, and there is a need to ventilate for cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the application of Internet of Things (IoT) Technology and Building Energy Management System (BEMS) within the Marylebone Campus of the University of Westminster, located in central London, to improve the environmental performance of the existing building as well as enhance the learning experience on energy and sustainability. Sixty IoT sensors connected to minicomputers were planned to be deployed within three floors of the building to continuously measure the real-time environmental parameters, such as dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity, illuminance level, carbon dioxide, and sound levels. Experimental workshops were also arranged with undergraduate and post-graduate students at their classrooms using IoT sensors, portable Bluetooth sensors and online questionnaires to increase awareness of the effect of environmental and behavioural changes on energy saving through real-time visualisation. Users' subjective feedback on their workplace was also collected through Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) questionnaire surveys. The results show the effectiveness of IoT systems and BEMS in supplying the building users and management with high-resolution, low-cost data acquisition systems highlighting the existing challenges and future scopes. The study also documents the process and the improvement in students' awareness of environmental and energy performance of their building through IoT data visualizations and POE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we performed elemental analysis for floor dust samples collected in Jordanian microenvironments (dwellings and educational building). We performed intercorrelation and cluster analysis between the elemental, polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), and microorganism concentrations. In general, the educational building workshops had the highest elemental contamination. The age of the dwelling and its occupancy played a role on the elemental contamination level: older and more occupied dwellingshad greater contamination. The elemental contamination at a dwelling entrance was observed to be higher than in the living room. We found exceptionally high concentrations for Fe and Mn in the educational workshop and additionally, Hg, Cr, and Pb concentrations exceeded the limits set by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. According to the cluster analysis, we found three major groups based on location and contamination. According to the enrichment factor ( EF ) assessment, Al, Co, Mn, Ti, and Ba had EF < 2 (i.e., minimal enrichment) whereas P, S, Pb, Sb, Mo, Zn, Hg, and Cu had EF > 40 (i.e., extremely enriched). In contrast, Ca and P were geogenically enriched. Furthermore, significant Spearman correlations indicated nine subgroups of elemental contamination combined with PAHs and microbes.