Assessing thermal comfort and energy consumption in school classrooms.

The measurement and simulation of energy consumption and comfort is undertaken for a primary school in Melbourne, Australia. Four classrooms are measured providing data sets of air temperature, humidity, heating and lighting energy consumption in conjunction with external weather measurements over a full year. The primary investigation is to assess two different heating systems: electric radiant ceiling panels versus gas convective air heating. A theoretical simulation, using the TRNSYS program, yields results of air temperature, operative temperature (combined convective & radiative temperature for the space) and energy consumption. A secondary investigation of thermal comfort is provided through the use of thermal comfort meters, which are positioned in two of the classrooms allowing ISO 7730 standards and newer adaptive models to be observed. Studies implementing the variables of air velocity, humidity and temperature to maintain the thermal comfort range are explored. A method of measurement, simulation and analysis for naturally ventilated classrooms is discussed.