Module 1 · Unit 4 · 12 minutes
Case study
A municipality plans to renovate a secondary school built in 1988. The building is heated by two natural gas boilers that are approaching the end of their service life. The school operates Monday to Friday, with occasional evening use for community activities.
The municipality has set a target of reducing the building's carbon emissions by at least 70 % over the next 10 years. By 2045, the secondary school's carbon emissions are expected to be reduced by 100 %.
Due to the increasing frequency of heat waves, the secondary school also wants to be able to cool the building on very hot days during the summer.
The following information is currently available:
However, several questions remain unanswered. The municipality would like to know whether a decentralised heat pump, district heating connection, or another solution would be the best option.
Before selecting a pathway, the engineering team must determine what additional information is required.
For each checklist item, identify whether the information is available and where missing evidence could be obtained. Complete the downloaded worksheet before opening the model answers.
Download the evidence checklist worksheet (DOCX)
| Information Required | Already Available? (✓/X) | If Missing, Where Could It Be Obtained? |
|---|---|---|
| Annual energy consumption | ✓ | Utility bills |
| Hourly heat demand profile | X | Energy meters or BMS data or contact energy provider |
| Heating load curve | X | Derived from hourly heat demand profile |
| Hourly cooling demand profile | X | Make assumptions such as determining the number of hours per year during which the outdoor temperature is above a certain level or use of statistical data |
| Cooling load curve | X | Derived from hourly cooling demand profile |
| Required temperature levels | X | BMS records or site survey including temperature measurements |
| Existing heating equipment | ✓ | Plant room inspection |
| Remaining asset life | Partly | Maintenance records and site inspection |
| Building insulation level | ✓ | Energy audit or building survey |
| Distribution system condition | X | Site inspection |
| Building operating schedule | ✓ | School management, BMS and principal |
| Electricity grid capacity | X | Electricity network operator |
| Carbon emissions | ✓ | Calculated from energy consumption |
| Future building plans | X | Municipality or building owner |
| Future operational needs | ✓ | Interviews with building owner, facility manager and principal |
| District heating availability | X | Local district heating operator or municipality |
| Renewable heat sources | X | Resource assessment and feasibility study |
| Stakeholder priorities | X | Interviews with building owner and facility manager |