Long-Term Energy Consumption Forecasts for Heating and Cooling of a Kindergarten Classroom using Various Shading Systems - Case Study

This study analyses the long-term impact of climate change on the energy consumption for heating and cooling of a standard nursery school and evaluates the energy efficiency of three different shading systems applied to a south-west facing classroom. Simulations were performed in DesignBuilder/EnergyPlus software using 225 future climate datasets for the years 2025–2100, which were derived from the Special Report on Emission Scenarios (SRES), using the A2, A1B and B1 scenarios with statistical downscaling. The results show a systematic decrease in energy consumption for heating and a simultaneous increase in energy consumption for cooling, with scenario A2 showing the highest dynamics of change. A comparison of the shading systems shows that exterior blinds are the most effective in reducing cooling energy consumption (≈ 39–40%), followed by thermochromic glazing (≈ 13–16%). Interior blinds do not have a significant effect in terms of cooling energy consumption. All the shading options cause a slight increase in heating energy consumption due to the reduction in winter solar gains, but this is minimal for exterior and interior blinds. The study emphasises the importance of passive measures in the long-term adaptation of buildings to changing climatic conditions and the optimisation of the energy efficiency of buildings.