Engineering a Predictive Energy Consumption Model for University Properties

To decrease buildings' thermal and electrical energy consumption at public properties two general starting points can be separated regarding the investment costs: Either to increase the performance of the buildings' thermal envelope, assets and devices by modernization and replacement which results in high invests and long amortization periods, or by influencing the already installed assets and devices as well as inhabitant behavior which leads to lower invests and amortization times. At university properties most plans for energetic modernization of envelope, assets and devices are declined due to long amortization periods, the economic pressure at public funds or monumental protection. Therefore, this work discusses an interdisciplinary approach to optimize building operations by means of automation, economics and psychology. It presents the engineering process toward a mathematical model to predict the impact of each research discipline's method and interdisciplinary combinations on the building's energy consumption. Thereby, results at Saarland University can be transferred to further university or public properties.