School building occupancy and energy efficiency modelling: Two case studies

Abstract

Comparing the results of energy simulations with real energy consumption of the buildings, often shows discrepancies between the two. This research aims in, exploring the gap between simulated models and actual energy consumption of buildings, by analyzing the impacts of, number of occupants and their presence time in the building. Two Italian school buildings (Aldo Moro and Andersen schools in Seregno) are chosen as cases. The buildings' simulations, once using standard profiles (ASHRAE), and once using the actual occupancy profiles (from real schedules) are compared with the real gas consumption of the buildings in three years (2014-2016). In Andersen school, the results show 47% of a discrepancy between the ASHRAE and actual occupancy simulations, with the average of the gas bills of 3 years. In Aldo Moro, there is a variation of 65% (ASHRAE) and 55% (actual occupancy) from the average value of the bills. It shows that by implementing the real occupancy of the building in Aldo Moro, the results got closer to the real energy bills. This could be due to the reason that Aldo Moro has a higher number of students and considering the more precise schedule of occupants, had a greater impact on annual energy consumption, as compared to the Andersen school, which is smaller and has a smaller number of students.