The quality of the microclimate in educational buildings subjected to thermal modernization

Abstract

Realization and exploitation of buildings involves in European Union about 40% of total energy consumption [1]. One of the elements of rationalization of energy consumption in buildings are the undertakings related with thermal modernization of buildings. The actions related with reducing the energy intensity of buildings are not always correlated with improvement of microclimate conditions in the rooms. Errors in the implementation of the energy efficiency program led to the phenomenon of sick building syndrome. The paper presents the results of the research conducted in a few educational buildings before and after thermal modernization. The research includes energy consumption for the heating of building and selected parameters of the interior microclimate. This analysis was carried out to evaluate the influence of energy saving activities on microclimate interior conditions. It was found that in many cases commonly used gravitational ventilation is not able to ensure the proper conditions of the interior microclimate, and the concentrations of carbon dioxide recorded in the tested rooms exceeded the applicable standards.