Energy Performance of Higher Education Institutions Buildings Operating During Quarantine Restrictions and/or Martial Law in Ukraine

Abstract

During the pandemic and periods of martial law, educational institutions in Ukraine implemented various forms of organising the educational process, combining in-person and remote classes. As a result, there has been a decrease in the level of use of building premises. The analysis of the characteristics of energy consumption in these conditions requires additional attention. In this study, a dynamic energy model of the building was created using the educational building of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute as an example. Energy consumption for heating needs was determined for normal operating conditions and quarantine conditions in Ukraine (only a specific part of the premises is being operated, ensuring that the standard temperature value is maintained while people are present). Based on the results of the study, the features of the energy consumption of the building during quarantine/martial law restrictions, subject to the partial use of the building, were analysed, and the main disadvantages of such a mode were identified. For the educational building of the university, the total energy consumption for heating needs depends on the number of rooms that are actively used, and the modes of regulation of heating and ventilation; the consumption can decrease depending on the chosen scenario by 61 %, 56 %, and 34 % in quarantine mode. The findings indicate that the efficiency of regulation modes can decrease by more than four times when compared to normal mode due to internal heat exchange with unoccupied rooms.