The Energy Retrofit Impact in Public Buildings: A Numerical Cross-Check Supported by Real Consumption Data

• Published in: Energies (Basel) Vol. 16; no. 23; p. 7748
• Main Authors: Ballerini, Vincenzo, Lubowicka, Bernadetta, Valdiserri, Paolo, Krawczyk, Dorota Anna, Sadowska, Beata, Kłopotowski, Maciej, di Schio, Eugenia Rossi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-12-2023
• Subjects: Audyor OZC; building retrofit; Buildings; Carbon dioxide; comfort analysis; Cost control; dynamic analysis; Emission standards; Emissions; Energy audits; Energy consumption; Energy efficiency; Energy industry; Green buildings; HVAC; Kindergarten; Modernization; Numerical analysis; Public buildings; Remodeling, restoration, etc; Simulation; Software; Thermal energy; Trnsys; Ventilation; ventilation losses; Poland; Europe; Spain
• DOI: 10.3390/en16237748
• EISSN: 1996-1073

In the framework of reducing carbon dioxide emissions and energy consumption, the energy retrofit of existing buildings plays a significant role and is often supported by numerical analyses of the planned activities and expected results. This study analyses a public building (a kindergarten) located in Bialystok (Poland) and aims to determine the building’s energy performance prior to and after thermal modernization. The building was examined by employing two different software packages, Audytor OZC 7.0 Pro and Trnsys 18. The thermal efficiency improvement applied to the renovated building in Bialystok was also analyzed by virtually locating the building in Bologna (Italy). Moreover, a comfort analysis focused on the classrooms of the kindergarten was carried out employing Trnsys. As a novelty, in the analysis, particular attention is paid to ventilation losses and to the influence of envelope elements properties on the building energy demand. The results arising from analyses were compared to real consumption data for the heating season. The results obtained from the two software programs display excellent agreement, and they also match the real consumption data if the heating demand is considered, while some differences arise when the cooling demand is considered.