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.
Assessing thermal comfort and energy consumption in school classrooms.
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Year:
2000
Bibliographic info:
Architecture, City, Environment: Proceedings of PLEA 2000, James & James (Science Publishers) Ltd, London, UK, 2000, ISBN 1 902916 16 6, proceedings of the Passive and Low Energy Architecture conference, held Cambridge, UK, July 2000, pp 617-622.