This study presents the evaluation of the performance and acceptability of thermal comfort by students in the classrooms of a university building with minisplit-type air-conditioning systems, in a tropical climate. To carry out the study, temperature and humidity measurements were recorded, both outside and inside the selected classrooms, while the students were asked to complete thermal surveys on site. The survey model is based on the template proposed by Fanger and it was applied to a total number of 584 students. In each classroom, the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and the Predicted Percentage Dissatisfied (PPD) were estimated according to Fanger’s methodology, as well as the Thermal Sensation Vote (TSV) and the Actual Percentage Dissatisfied (APD), which were obtained from the measurements and the surveys. The results of this study showed that the PMV values, although they may vary with the insulation of the clothing, do not affect the TSV. Furthermore, comparing PMV vs. TSV scores, a 2 °C to 3 °C difference in operating temperature was found, whereby the thermal sensitivity for TSV was colder, so it could be assumed that the PMV model overestimates the thermal sensitivity of students in low-temperature conditions. In addition, an acceptability by 90% with thermal preferences between 23 °C and 24 °C were also found. These results indicate that it is possible to increase the temperature set point in minisplit-type air-conditioning system from 4 °C to 7 °C with respect to the currently set temperatures, without affecting the acceptability of the thermal environment to the students in the building.

This paper presents an energy performance assessment on an educational building in Barranquilla, Colombia. The electricity consumption performance was assessed using the software DesignBuilder for two different Air Conditioning (AC) systems. The current electricity intensity is 215.3 kWh/m²-year and centralized AC systems with individual fan coils and a water chiller share 66% of the total consumption and lighting at 16%. The simulation of the AC technology change to Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) resulted in an improvement of 38% in AC energy intensity with 88 kWh/m²-year and significant savings in electricity consumption and life-cycle cost of AC systems in buildings.

The data included in this study was calculated based on data provided by the national project registry provided by the Colombian government. The data forecasts the evolution of the power generation capacity registered in non-conventional renewable energy source projects in three scenarios of implementation of the power generation capacity registered in the projects. Results can be used to benchmark non-conventional renewable energy sources in Colombia, interpret the effectiveness of renewable policies, and monitor the evolution of non-conventional renewable-based power generation. The data presented in the article relates to the research study: A look to the electricity generation from non-conventional renewable energy sources in Colombia [1].

En este estudio que se presenta se integran técnicas utilizadas para analizar problemas asociados a la climatización que por sí no son suficientes para evaluar todo un sistema de acondicionamiento de aire. Se utiliza la termografía para obtener el perfil de temperatura en el área de incidencia del aire climatizado y los focos calientes en el interior del local. Mediante la simulación con el software Trnsys se obtiene el comportamiento de la temperatura interior y se estima el perfil de carga térmica. Con el diseño asistido por computador se crea un modelo espacial de la zona térmica y con el método de los elementos finitos se modela la circulación del aire y la distribución de la temperatura en el espacio. Finalmente, se propone un nuevo esquema para el sistema de frío a partir de los resultados obtenidos con las herramientas anteriores.