The roadmap to an Ecocampus: Understanding the interplay between learning space and energy efficiency

The thesis demonstrated that space management must be part of the real estate strategy and that spaces must be constructed on the basis of common known (e.g required equipment) and unknown factors (e.g. increase in student numbers). The questionnaire showed that lack of versatility, services and indoor comfort contribute to making a space inefficient. Consequently, they affect the user’s choice of space as many do not wish to spend time at the studied building unless they have study tasks, which is why low occupancy levels were observed during the study. Measurements such as specific energy consumption adjusted for occupancy (SECo) & Specific energy for usage and space efficiency (SECus) are good indicators since they take into account occupancy rates, daily hours and space per person (m2/person). In this particular studied building, the equipment and users cause merely one-fifth of the consumption and the remaining consumption is attributed to the fact that the building has a high base consumption. In conclusion, this thesis urges the campus management to provide inspiring and versatile spaces to the community since this will not only lead to enhanced space utilization, but also decrease the amount of wasted energy in the form of unused spaces. Such efforts will also encourage efficiency of older buildings, since new buildings are more energy efficient, thus leading the university campus to achieve a balance in space and energy efficiency