A New Generation of Thermal Energy Benchmarks for University Buildings

Abstract

In 2008, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE TM46 UC) presented an annual-fixed thermal energy benchmark of 240 kWh/m2/yr for university campus (UC) buildings as an attempt to reduce energy consumption in public buildings. However, the CIBSE TM46 UC benchmark fails to consider the difference between energy demand in warm and cold months, as the thermal performance of buildings largely depends on the ambient temperature. This paper presents a new generation of monthly thermal energy benchmarks (MTEBs) using two computational methods including mixed-use model and converter model, which consider the variations of thermal demand throughout a year. MTEBs were generated using five basic variables, including mixed activities in the typical college buildings, university campus revised benchmark (UCrb), typical operation of heating systems, activities impact, and heating degree days. The results showed that MTEBs vary from 24 kWh/m2/yr in January to one and nearly zero kWh/m2/yr in June and July, respectively. Based on the detailed assessments, a typical college building was defined in terms of the percentage of its component activities. Compared with the 100% estimation error of the TM46 UC benchmark, the maximum 21% error of the developed methodologies is a significant achievement. The R-squared value of 99% confirms the reliability of the new generation of benchmarks.

Procedures and Methodologies for the Control and Improvement of Energy-Environmental Quality in Construction

“…Cieślikiewicz et al in their study [8] monitored in situ the drying process of masonry walls and recorded the changes in the temperature and moisture as part of the renovation the historical building's basement. Vaisi et al [9] provided a new thermal energy benchmark for university buildings focusing on monthly resolution in order to improve the accuracy of national action plans and their realization for energy-efficient built environment. In the tenth paper, Grassi et al [10] investigate how the reduced temperature of a secondgeneration district heating supply can be handled despite the possible occurrence of discomfort caused by the lower output of radiators when working at reduced temperatures.…”

Heat Mapping, a Method for Enhancing the Sustainability of the Smart District Heat Networks

“…According to the ArcGIS analysis, the overall useful area of the buildings serviced by the DH system was 43,793 m 2 . According to the CIBSE TM46:2008 methodology [31] and the monthly thermal energy models (MTEMs) developed in [39,40], the buildings needed (in 2012) 11,312,468 kWh thermal energy per year. These buildings occupy approximately 14,916 m 2 of the campus land (the overall area of the footprint of buildings).…”

“…The actual heat demand data applied in the assessments related to both space heating and domestic hot water. The monthly heat demand calculation was addressed comprehensively by applying valid monthly thermal energy models (MTEMs) [39] for typical educational buildings, such as a college. However, a campus also includes other types of buildings, which are important from the heat demand perspective.…”

“…To generate the monthly heat demand maps for case study buildings, two methods were combined. The method of monthly thermal energy models (MTEMs) [39] was ap-plied for typical college buildings (PTC types) that did not need heating in summers. The CIBSE TM46 [31] method was also applied to calculate the energy demand for non-UC buildings (PTC types).…”

Application of Simulation-Based Metrics to Improve the Daylight Performance of a Secondary School, An Approach for Green Building Designers and Architects

“…In other studies, Vaisi et al [27][28][29][30] have investigated the energy benchmarks for various types of buildings, such as university buildings, offices, and school buildings. The daylighting analysis is connected with energy consumption.…”