Energy audit method applied to tertiary buildings: Case study of a University campus

Abstract

Energy audits are an essential tool for improving energy efficiency and saving energy in various sectors, especially in the building sector. It is a vital tool for supporting the renovation of buildings and attaining carbon neutrality in this sector. In this article, we report an energy audit of a university campus based in Fez, Morocco. A detailed diagnosis combined with an accurate analysis of the electrical consumption of each system on campus has enabled us to identify the energy consuming systems and to propose a suitable energy saving strategy. A photovoltaic plant has been implemented at the campus to reduce its dependence to the electrical grid. The proposed actions resulting from this energy audit revealed that the campus can save 161 MWh of electrical energy and avoid 120 tons of CO2 emissions per year. This corresponds to a 33% reduction compared to the initial situation. The total investment has been estimated at 55 800 $ and the overall payback period does not exceed 2.8 years.