ABSTRACT
Design guidelines issued recently by ASHRAE in order to achieve good internal air quality in school classrooms conflict with the target of efficient energy utilization throughout the year. This conflict is enhanced in warm climates, leading to extreme daytime cooling loads and peak power demands in summer and spring. The Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructures has initiated a demonstration project, intended to raise designers’ and municipalities’ awareness to energy efficient design of schools. This project aims also at partially resolving the mentioned conflict and suggesting adequate energy saving means for ensuring indoor air quality. A recently erected school in the new city Modi’in serves as the case study. Results indicate that major energy savings, while ensuring thermal comfort as well as indoor air quality, can be achieved only by optimization of the multi-variable problem of combined ventilation schemes and envelope modifications.
