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Energy-efficient schools– an EnOB research area
The learning and living environment provided by schools should offer optimum learning conditions. Investments in the learning environment will directly benefit our children’s future and, ultimately, all of us. The EnOB research initiative is therefore placing a particular focus on “Energy-efficient schools”. This is intended to develop principles for future-oriented school building concepts based on model projects. For example, solutions that could lead to significantly improved energy efficiency combined with increased comfort will be tried out in test projects.
So-called energy-plus schools will be implemented as flagship projects. In terms of their annual energy balance, energy-plus buildings generate more energy than they consume – and can offer an excellent indoor environment. A further group of schools will attain an energy standard equivalent to 3-litre houses – these are buildings that require less than 34 kilowatt-hours of primary energy per square metre of usable area for the heating and ventilation.
Model projects
Particularly ambitious and impressive examples can demonstrate the possibilities currently realisable in new buildings and refurbishments, where the requirements and difficulties lie, and which solutions are particularly promising. The respective project teams will be supported by the research initiative, the buildings will be monitored closely and the data will be scientifically evaluated.
3-litre-house schools
Within the framework of the EnOB ‘energy-efficient schools’ research area, around ten schools will be refurbished or built to an energy standard equivalent to 3-litre houses – these are buildings that require less than 34 kilowatt-hours of primary energy per square metre of usable area for heating and ventilation (including auxiliary energy).
Energy-plus schools
Selected refurbishments or new building projects will be implemented as energy-plus schools. This energy standard is particularly ambitious, since in terms of their annual energy balance these buildings generate more energy than they require for operation, i.e. for the heating, ventilation, domestic hot water heating and lighting.
Accompanying research team
In September 2007, a team was formed for the cross-project analysis and research. This six-person research group, which comprises members of staff from Fraunhofer IBP, Fraunhofer ISI and Munich University of Applied Sciences, will accompany the various model projects, coordinate the building monitoring, conduct sociological studies and support the school team at the educational and didactic levels. The various model projects will be cross-analysed in order to develop individual topic areas, aids, recommendations and design tools relevant to practice – for both school refurbishments and new building projects.
More projects and concepts
In addition to the model projects implemented as part of the EnOB “Energy-efficient schools” research area, many other noteworthy new building and refurbishment projects are also being realised in Germany. These include a considerable range of ambitious projects not related to research projects and school projects supported by the Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), the German Energy Agency (dena), the KfW Bankengruppe and other players. Particularly outstanding projects shall also be documented on this website in order to strengthen the exemplary function provided by these school projects.
In addition, financing and savings concepts will also be documented here in the near future such as contracting concepts or the ‘fifty-fifty’ model. In other worlds, the website deals with all concepts that promote energy savings.
Monitoring and analysis
Special project teams will support the model projects in the EnOB “Energy-efficient schools” research area – by providing advice during the design and construction phase and by comprehensively measuring and evaluating data during the operating phase.
The accompanying research team will be responsible for conducting comparative system and performance analyses in relation to different projects. These will utilise the scientific database acquired from the various model projects to develop answers to specific practice-based issues concerned with refurbishing and building schools. The following aspects shall be analysed in particular:
- The influence of technical measures on the energy consumption
- Costs and economic viability
- Further relevant parameters such as acoustics, comfort, lighting, etc.
For planning purposes
The main research findings will be made available to the various target groups in the form of guidelines, checklists and specific recommendations for action. In addition, various events will be organised to exchange research- and practice-related findings. Finally, software tools will be developed to facilitate the recording of current on-site conditions along with planning tools relating to design, simulations, air quality, lighting, illumination, indoor air humidity, acoustics, etc.
Accompanying sociological research
The accompanying sociological research will investigate the efficiency of educational support concepts and the acceptance of these measures. In addition to the school pupils, other target groups for information-based programmes will include teachers, caretakers and parents. The investigative methods will include various kinds of surveys (e.g. written questionnaires, interviews) along with group discussions, participative observations at events and the evaluation of energy-related data in relation to use behaviour.