Indoor Air Quality Assessment: Comparison of Ventilation Scenarios for Retrofitting Classrooms in a Hot Climate

Carmen María Calama-González,Ángel Luis León-Rodríguez,Rafael Suárez

doi:10.3390/en12244607

Carmen María Calama-González, Ángel Luis León-Rodríguez + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en12244607

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Journal: Energies	Publication Date: Dec 4, 2019
Citations: 8	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Universidad de Sevilla

Abstract

Current energy efficiency policies in buildings foster the promotion of energy retrofitting of the existing stock. In southern Spain, the most extensive public sector is that of educational buildings, which is especially subject to significant internal loads due to high occupancy. A large fraction of the energy retrofit strategies conducted to date have focused on energy aspects and indoor thermal comfort, repeatedly disregarding indoor air quality criteria. This research assesses indoor air quality in a school located in the Mediterranean area, with the objective of promoting different ventilation scenarios, based on occupancy patterns and carbon dioxide levels monitored on site. Results show that manual ventilation cannot guarantee minimum indoor quality levels following current standards. A constant ventilation based on CO2 levels allows 15% more thermal comfort hours a year to be reached, compared to CO2-based optimized demand-controlled ventilation. Nevertheless, the latter ensures 35% annual energy savings, compared to a constant CO2-based ventilation, and 37% more annual energy savings over that of a constant ventilation rate of outdoor air per person.

Highlights

Given that the building sector accounts for around 40% of energy consumption [1] in Europe, increasing energy efficiency in buildings has become a fundamental goal [2]
A constant ventilation based on CO2 levels allows 15% more thermal comfort hours a year to be reached, compared to CO2 -based optimized demand-controlled ventilation
This research was conducted during three representative periods summer, mid-season), comparing the conductedvalues during three periods, comparing the registered with therepresentative upper limits recommended by several national and international standards

Summary

Introduction

Given that the building sector accounts for around 40% of energy consumption [1] in Europe, increasing energy efficiency in buildings has become a fundamental goal [2]. 2010/31/EU [3], it is crucial to reduce the energy needed to adequately cool, heat, and ventilate buildings, fostering alternative solutions that minimize energy demand [4]. The slow rate at which existing buildings are being replaced by new constructions [5] makes it difficult to meet the energy savings proposed in these standards. The existing building stock must be refurbished in order to provide significant environmental effects [6]. Current energy policies promote building retrofitting as a main strategic action, as established in Directive 2012/27/EU [7].

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