An integrated approach on energy consumption and indoor environmental quality performance in six Portuguese secondary schools

This work is part of a wider research project called Energy Efficient Schools (Escolas Energeticamente Eficientes, 3Es), granted by Teixeira Duarte in the framework of the Portuguese Program of R&D Projects associated with Large Public Tenders. The authors are thankful to Parque Escolar E.P.E. for the provision of the database on the Portuguese secondary schools. The presented work is framed under the Energy for Sustainability Initiative of the University of Coimbra and ‘SusCity: Urban data driven models for creative and resourceful urban transitions’ project (MITP-TB/CS/0026/2013). The authors acknowledge the support of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under project grant UID/MULTI/00308/2013 and PhD research grant SFRH/BD/77105/2011.A major rehabilitation programme of secondary school buildings has been carried out in the last few years in Portugal. With the introduction of HVAC systems in buildings that were previously naturally ventilated, an increase on energy consumption has been verified. During the first occupancy periods of new and refurbished buildings, energy and indoor climate quality audits are important strategies to improve the buildings’ energy use. In this context, this paper aims at showing the relations between the energy consumption and indoor environment quality (IEQ) parameters, obtained from the energy and IEQ audit in six representative modernised secondary schools – part of a larger R&D project untitled 3Es – geographically and climatically distributed in Portugal mainland. The monitoring period during the mid-season 2013 varied between schools, between two and three weeks. Air exchange rates, more specifically infiltration rates, were quantified aiming at determining the current airtightness condition of the refurbished schools. A subjective IEQ assessment was also performed, focusing on occupants' feedback, providing insight on the potential linkages between energy use and occupants’ comfort. A reflection on the energy consumption indicators and the indoor conditions obtained in the classrooms was proposed, and some suggestions were anticipated