Analysis of thermal energy demand and saving in industrial buildings: A case study in Slovakia

Energy saving through incorporation of automation techniques in buildings is usually too complicated and costly and it is necessary to protect environment. Presently, there is no single directive and standard method to estimate and validate the energy consumption process in industrial buildings for heating to maintain a comfortable environment for working. The purpose of this study was to find and develop a practical method for analysis and calculation of thermal energy consumptions and saving in buildings. The energy required for heating in an industrial building in Kosice, Slovakia was studied using measurements, calculations and dynamic simulations. The energy needed for heating was determined according to the Slovakian and Austrian national standard methods using the simplified calculation method that is applied for non-residential buildings and the ESP-r and BuilOpt-VIE simulation programs. The repeatability of the experimental data and possibility of rapid assessments in an optimized process using these methods were studied. It was found that the clear definitions of the heat consumers inside the building, including all machinery and occupants, are very important for evaluation of energy needed for heating. Using dynamic simulation, it is not possible to reproduce actual temperatures at various heights without prior knowledge of the exact functionality of the heating and cooling systems. The simulations results also indicated that integration of lighting, heat recovery and door opening automation can significantly reduce the heating energy consumption.