Patricia Lourenço

The increase of complexity in school buildings to ensure for users comfort and social and functional demands are changing energy consumption patterns. In the Portuguese context, a recent rise in energy consumption, after a major national refurbishment programme, confirms the need to improve energy management in schools in order to reduce their environmental impact. Besides building design and systems, users are also a determining factor impacting energy consumption in buildings. However, behavioural issues are still among the areas least covered by scientific literature.

The present paper analyses the energy consumption patterns of eight Portuguese case-study schools, with a methodological approach that integrates quantitative and qualitative data analysis. The approach made it possible to link the energy consumption patterns of the schools (selected as Key Performance Indicators) with the user behaviour and management strategies. As a result, six Key Performance Strategies (KPS) were identified so as potentially to enhance the energy performance of school buildings through use and management. Some of the identified KPS can be implemented directly through school management policies to reduce energy use and enhance efficiency. Others can be incorporated in future building design strategies. Some have the potential for being hereafter integrated into the simulation models of buildings’ energy performance.

The increase of complexity in school buildings to support user comfort and social and functional demands is changing the resources consumption patterns, namely energy. Users indoor comfort conditions also play a significant role in energy demand in school buildings. A significant number of Portuguese public secondary schools were recently refurbished, under a national modernization program. The present paper shares the main results of a multiple case study, comprising eight secondary schools, regarding resources use monitoring (energy and water) and the observational field work concerning users’ attitudes and behaviour.Promoting best practices to enhance school buildings sustainability has a double goal: addressing the environmental impact of a large stock of service buildings and simultaneously raise awareness among the younger generations.
(This paper was presented by the first author (Lourenço) in the Word SB14 Barcelona, October 2014.

The increase of complexity in school buildings to ensure for users comfort and social and functional demands are changing energy consumption patterns. In the Portuguese context, a recent rise in energy consumption, after a major national refurbishment programme, confirms the need to improve energy management in schools in order to reduce their environmental impact. Besides building design and systems, users are also a determining factor impacting energy consumption in buildings. However, behavioural issues are still among the areas least covered by scientific literature.

The present paper analyses the energy consumption patterns of eight Portuguese case-study schools, with a methodological approach that integrates quantitative and qualitative data analysis. The approach made it possible to link the energy consumption patterns of the schools (selected as Key Performance Indicators) with the user behaviour and management strategies. As a result, six Key Performance Strategies (KPS) were identified so as potentially to enhance the energy performance of school buildings through use and management. Some of the identified KPS can be implemented directly through school management policies to reduce energy use and enhance efficiency. Others can be incorporated in future building design strategies. Some have the potential for being hereafter integrated into the simulation models of buildings’ energy performance.