Optimizing Energy Performance in Educational Buildings: Insights from Post-Occupancy Evaluation and Retrofit Strategies

Evaluating a building’s performance and comfort after it has been occupied is crucial for identifying issues such as high energy consumption, particularly in older structures built before 1970s energy crises, like those found on university campuses. This study is part of a broader Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) project assessing four major academic buildings across Texas Tech University. It intends to enhance their performance, energy efficiency, and occupants’ comfort by using retrofit strategies and building energy modeling. Data on actual energy usage, construction details, operating schedules, and equipment were collected using spot and long-term measurement techniques to evaluate building performance and user comfort. Building energy models were developed using the Integrated Environment Solution- Virtual Environment (IESVE). Simulations explored potential retrofits, including passive design strategies and renewable energy options such as set-back for HVAC systems, double-glazing windows, LED lighting, and cool roofs. The results showed that specific retrofits, such as double-glazing windows, yielded 15% and 18% energy reduction in two buildings, achieving Energy Use Intensity(EUI) values of 133 and 125, respectively, in two buildings. Furthermore, combining different retrofits could lead to significant annual reductions in energy consumption of 15.32%, 19.53%, 17.52%, and 9.09% for each of the four buildings in this study. These findings highlight the value of POE in identifying opportunities for energy savings and performance improvements in academic settings, providing a framework for broader application in other educational environments.