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On the Built-Environment Quality in Nearly Zero-Energy Renovated Schools: Assessment and Impact of Passive Strategies

Author

Listed:
  • Michele Zinzi

    (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesca Pagliaro

    (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy)

  • Stefano Agnoli

    (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy)

  • Fabio Bisegna

    (Department of Astronautical Electrical and Energy Engineering, SAPIENZA University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy)

  • Domenico Iatauro

    (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) is a crucial issue in school buildings, because of the conditions that pupils and students are exposed to. From this assumption, potentialities of retrofit actions with Nearly Zero-Energy Building (NZEB) targets were analyzed in existing school buildings, focusing on the impact of such measures of IEQ. Numerical analyses in a transient regime for a typical school building were carried out to assess the impacts on the thermal comfort and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). The study took into account several building configurations and three reference cities. The results showed severe overheating risks in retrofitted schools: the operative temperature increased by several degrees with respect to the existing configuration, leading to thermal discomfort for a relevant part of the observation period. Passive techniques, namely external solar protection devices and night ventilative cooling, were applied to assess their mitigation potential. Results showed that the combination of the two solutions restored the pre-retrofit performance. CO 2 levels were found to be too high for naturally ventilated buildings, regardless of the building configuration; acceptable levels might be reached only with long opening times of windows, which are unrealistic for real building operation.

Suggested Citation

  • Michele Zinzi & Francesca Pagliaro & Stefano Agnoli & Fabio Bisegna & Domenico Iatauro, 2021. "On the Built-Environment Quality in Nearly Zero-Energy Renovated Schools: Assessment and Impact of Passive Strategies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:10:p:2799-:d:553884
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yunho Kim & Yunha Park & Hyuncheol Seo & Jungha Hwang, 2023. "Load Prediction Algorithm Applied with Indoor Environment Sensing in University Buildings," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-14, January.

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