The Impact of Optimised Set Values in Educational Buildings to Reduce Energy Consumption and Carbon Emissions

Improving energy efficiency in post-primary-school buildings is crucial for decarbonisation, yet existing strategies often focus on costly renovations, rather than operational optimisations. This study addresses the research gap by investigating how targeted adjustments in building operation can achieve significant energy savings without major renovations while maintaining user comfort. This research employs the interdisciplinary ENERGE Project framework and a five-step methodology that integrates technical and behavioural approaches to identify savings opportunities. Central to the approach is an energy audit, which analyses building performance, benchmarks consumption against local standards, and categorises energy use to prioritise interventions. The methodology involves planning, implementing, and evaluating savings strategies with stakeholder engagement. Educational buildings were selected as pilot sites due to their important building stock and potential for dissemination. The results of a case study with empirical validation in Luxembourg demonstrate significant energy-saving opportunities, particularly in baseload consumption. By adopting reduced operational modes during unoccupied periods, energy use was minimised without compromising comfort. Monitoring revealed substantial reductions in electricity consumption, with an additional 5% savings achieved by adjusting light levels in common areas to meet standard requirements. Moreover, adapting the operational schedules of pumps and ventilation systems in a swimming pool to actual usage patterns yielded estimated savings of 12 MWh/a. These findings highlight the potential to achieve meaningful energy savings without requiring high investments or deep renovations, which in many cases face performance gaps. Success relies on adaptable operational settings and active engagement of the entire stakeholder chain to realise sustainable and impactful energy-saving measures. Furthermore, the saving measures tested in educational buildings can be replicated in the residential sector.