Energy use Assessment, After the Implementation of Energy-Saving Measures in School Buildings

In the presented study, an assessment of energy usage was made after the implementation of energy saving measures (ESMs) in school buildings, in Bulgaria. The main objective is to eliminate the influence of external atmospheric conditions by analyzing the specific energy consumption of the building itself. Therefore, it is necessary to show the difference between the actual energy consumption in the building and the consumption predicted in the proposed energy surveys. The paper reveals how energy costs decrease after the implementation of ESMs. The data is taken from real energy efficiency surveys of 52 school buildings, distributed in four climatic zones in Bulgaria. A four-year period following the implementation of in total 204 ESMs was monitored, to assess the real and survey-foreseen energy savings. The school buildings surveyed for energy efficiency have an area in total of 147,121 m². The area of the smallest and largest buildings is 912 m² and 8,032 m². Based on the results obtained in this study, it can be suggested that the differences between the real energy savings and those proposed in the energy surveying models, can be reduced. This is a necessary step, for a more accurate assessment of the energy savings in the school buildings.

I. Introduction

Considering its energy policy, the European Union (EU) has many problems in the energy sector. These problems are related to the high energy prices, the use of more and more energy from renewable sources, etc. [1]–[3]. Recently, policies related to energy savings have become increasingly important and many funds have been invested in programs related to energy efficiency surveys of public buildings in the education field [4]. Reducing energy costs in school buildings is one of the primary tasks that are facing municipal governments and the Ministry of Education.