TEENERGY experience: how to reduce energy demand in Mediterranean schools

ABSTRACT The European Union established appropriate regulations through the Energy Performance Building 2002/91/CE and EU Directive 2010/31 aiming to ensure efficient buildings using local and national policies in relation to local and specific climatic conditions. From 31 st December 2018, we have to build zero energy public buildings and consequently we should have zero-energy school buildings. But do we know the average total amount of energy demand of schools in Europe? The research project TEENERGY Schools has been developed with the aim to find a common method to collect energy data consumptions, to analyse the building with its plants and promote energy efficiency solutions according to national legislations, finding the most suitable technical solution to reduce energy demand in existing schools and adopting appropriate strategies to implement indoor comfort. The paper focuses on the differences between the methodologies to assess the energy consumption of school buildings in the Mediterranean Area in order to reduce the energy demand. Criticism emerged due to the fact that each European country adopted the European Directive 2002 but with significant differences. Schools are comparable in energy consumption but to compare the energy savings due to retrofitting solutions a European common tool is necessary and a methodology for collecting data has to be defined, taking in to account that comparison is possible if the same instruments are used. The research project gave the opportunity to reflect on potential energy savings due to retrofitting actions on existing school buildings and also on the most appropriate technologies for new building projects. Working with technological and plant solutions adapted to the climatic conditions, the result could be very effective. Keywords: Sustainable Schools, Energy Audit, Energy Saving, Refurbishment Strategies