Evaluation of Retrofitting Strategies to Optimize Thermal Performance of Naturally Ventilated Classrooms: A simulation-Based Approach

Abstract

The thermally comfortable environment in classrooms is significant to improve the performance and productivity of students. A substantial number of researches emphasize energy-saving potential, especially for forthcoming projects, whereas existing buildings in the world consume 40% of the energy to meet the desired indoor comfort conditions. Passive retrofitting strategies provide opportunities for reducing energy consumptions to achieve sustainability in the existing buildings. Presently, architects and designers are taking advantage of building simulation tools that can compare and optimize design alternatives before the installation. The objective of this study is to analyse the performance of twenty-two combinations of retrofitting solutions to optimize the thermal performance of existing classrooms in the Architecture Department located in Tiruchirappalli, India, by using a simulation-based approach. The simulation results showed that retrofitting strategy 1 (RS1—expanded polystyrene + shading device option 1 + night ventilation) was performed better among all other strategies to achieve maximum comfort hours (three times more than the actual comfort hours). However, retrofitting strategy 5 (RS5—shading device option 1 + night ventilation) was found as a cost-effective strategy which does not include any insulating materials. Retrofitting strategies such as the insulating materials and the shading devices were significant only with night ventilation.