Our researchers in the Welsh School of Architecture have trialled and implemented a more effective way of monitoring buildings and their services to identify poor energy performance, increase efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
Our research has focussed on replacing physical inspections of building services and systems with more effective methods of continuous monitoring that help to quickly identify poor energy performance, in turn increasing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
Between 2000 and 2003 our researchers in the Welsh School of Architecture monitored energy use of air-conditioning (AC) systems in UK office buildings. The research gave an insight into the energy consumption of different types of AC systems in UK offices. The findings highlighted the disparity of energy consumption between AC system and design types despite the systems performing a similar function.
Continuous energy monitoring vs. individual physical inspections
Following the monitoring of UK systems, our researchers were asked to participate in an EU project ‘AuditAC’ coordinated by École des Mines, Paris, between 2005-2006. Our researchers investigated the efficiency of individual physical inspections compared to the results from energy monitoring. This research highlighted that, from a policy viewpoint, the physical inspection approach was not as cost-effective as continuous energy monitoring due to the number of accredited inspectors that would be required to carry out the inspections.
The Department of Education (DfE) school development programme
The iSERV approach has now been adopted as the energy evaluation measure for a £4.4 billion investment by the DfE to support the rebuilding and refurbishment of 537 schools across England from 2013-2022. The iSERV methodology is used to monitor and benchmark operational energy performance in all new schools and major refurbishments in England in order to meet required energy use targets. Over 100+ schools built under the programme have been assessed to date.
The DfE uses the iSERV data to help inform energy and carbon targets for the schools it funds. It also uses the data to help achieve greater understanding of how its design targets impact on the occupants health and wellbeing. This then feeds into new design requirements for future DFE schools including their ambitious route to net zero carbon ambitions. The approach and findings are also being used in non-DFE Schools in Wales too.
Adoption of continuous energy monitoring within the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)
The iSERVcmb research directly informed the latest version of the EPBD which was incorporated into national law of all EU member states in March 2020.
Key contacts
Knight IP et al – “Benchmarking HVAC System Energy Use Using Sub-hourly Data,” CLIMA 2013 Conference, pp. 12, Prague, June 2013 published in proceedings. Available from HEI.