The introduction of the dissertation highlights the relevance of the research topic, its connection with scientific programs, the goal, objectives, object, subject, and research methods, as well as the scientific novelty and practical significance of the results, the approval of the dissertation, and the applicant's publications.
The first chapter is devoted to the analysis of theoretical aspects of building energy efficiency. Key regulatory documents of Ukraine and the EU, green certification systems, and energy modeling programs are reviewed, with DesignBuilder selected for further research. Modern research directions in building energy efficiency in Ukraine and abroad, particularly in Europe and the USA, are highlighted. Special attention is paid to studies of heat loss, parametric analysis of external and internal factors affecting building energy efficiency, economic analysis of energy-saving measures, and the impact of user behavior.
The second chapter describes the research object—a school in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. The architectural features, building envelope, operational schedule, and generalization of the results to other school buildings are described. The DesignBuilder program, its working principles, input data, IWEC climate database, EnergyPlus mathematical model, and numerical parameters are discussed in detail. The baseline model is verified to assess the impact of improved insulation, showing energy savings of 48.9% and 55% for heating.
The third chapter focuses on a comprehensive assessment of the variability of heating regimes on energy consumption, thermal comfort, and the required heating system capacity in schools. Using a heating regime with a 4°C setback during off-hours can save 23-27% of energy, while scheduling according to school hours can save an additional 1.8-4.2%. Implementing heating regimes with setbacks requires increasing the system's capacity to compensate for temperature transitions. PMV analysis showed that scheduling according to school hours is a promising energy-saving measure, albeit complex to implement.
The fourth chapter analyzes the operation of a school building under partial occupancy conditions. A cluster of five rooms, three of which are in use while the others are conserved, is studied. Vertical room placement proved to be the most efficient. The analysis revealed that the program calculated an excessively powerful heating system. After adjusting the capacity, it was found that the system could not ensure comfortable conditions under any heating schedule. Various improvement measures, such as insulating internal walls and increasing heating capacity, were examined, but none provided complete comfort throughout the heating period.
Energy consumption analysis showed that increasing the heating system capacity led to a 77% rise in energy use. Heating adjacent rooms increased consumption by 100-200% without providing comfort. Insulating internal walls reduced energy consumption but did not achieve full comfort.
