The education of a nation's population is the foundation for its improvement and growth in the international community. Educational buildings are the cornerstone of this foundation and they consume a large portion of a nation's non-industrial energy needs. The indoor climate of the buildings (indoor air quality, percepted temperature, possible glare and acoustics) have a substantial influence on the knowledge transfer. With limited energy sources and the growth of educational needs, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has established a means of undertaking research and providing focus of building energy efficiency, Energy Conservation in Buildings and Community Systems. One of those international projects is Annex 36 - Energy Retrofit of Educational Buildings. In this project energy efficient retrofit measures for existing educational buildings are being analysed. The gained know-how shall be used in exemplary retrofit projects in the participating countries. Additionally a software tool (the Energy Concept Adviser) is developed that will give advice on energy-efficient retrofit measures to decision makers in administrations.
Annex 36 had the following goals:
- To provide tools and guidelines for decision makers and designers to improve the learning and teaching environment of educational facilities through energy- efficient retrofitting.
- To support the decision makers in evaluating the efficiency and acceptance of available concepts.
- To give recommendations on how to operate the retrofitted buildings.
- To promote energy- and cost-efficient retrofit measures.