Optimizing Energy Efficiency: Dynamic Numerical Simulation for Educational Buildings

In today’s context of rising energy prices and the implementation of European energy policies, which also apply to Romania, the imperative to reduce energy consumption has become increasingly pressing, even for older existing buildings. To address this challenge, we conducted dynamic simulations using DesignBuilder software. We employed a Testo 885-2 thermal imager to identify building leakages and heat loss, and a Testo 435 equipment to measure thermal transmittances for walls and roof, with these values serving as crucial inputs for the DesignBuilder simulations. Our study compared five distinct scenarios from both technical and economic standpoints: the existing real-case, the Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) solution according to Romanian legislation (2 scenarios), and the passive building case (2 scenarios). The primary energy consumption decreased significantly by $86.95 \%$ when transitioning from the initial case to meet Romanian nZEB requirements, and by $87.6 \%$ when aiming for passive house standards. In terms of economic feasibility, the nZEB scenario ($3^{\text {th }}$ one) exhibited a 15-year payback period, even without external funding from various governmental programs. This research underscores the potential for substantial energy savings and economic benefits achievable through energy-efficient building solutions.