Using solar photovoltaic power sources has become a discussed topic in the construction and energy industry. The pressing need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, increasing costs of traditional electricity generation, and affording photovoltaic modules has sparked a growing interest in solar photovoltaics. This study aims to optimis e the layout of solar photovoltaic systems to minimise environmental impact and building load, comparing the performing south-oriented panels with east-west-oriented panels. The comprehensive analysis performed hinges on a diverse array of determinative factors that demand thoughtful consideration before embarking upon implementing any photovoltaic installation. These salient factors, including but not limited to structural integrity, incorporating ballast for stability enhancement, integrating requisite electrical components, selecting solar panels, quantifying energy production capabilities, assessing carbon emissions, and discerning associated benefits, require thoughtful consideration before implementing any photovoltaic installation. The findings derived from this study underscore that, within the context of the given geographical location, the solar photovoltaic system configured with an East-West orientation represents the optimal choice to reduce both emissions and structural load. This study provides a scientific basis for the construction industry and the energy field and guides the future development of photovoltaic installation projects in a more economic and environmentally friendly direction.

The indoor environmental quality of a building has attracted everyone’s attention since a worldwide pandemic was declared and forced people indoors. After several months, people were able to return to their usual activities, but with strict safety measures added due to the circumstances. This paper focuses on the impact of safety measures on students’ thermal comfort, a case study performed in a continental climate zone, during the winter. The methodology used involved the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data. Descriptive statistics and frequencies alongside correlations and cross-tabular methods were used to analyze the collected data. The results indicated that the predicted mean vote (PMV) underestimated students’ thermal perception. A difference of 1.5 °C was found between the operative neutral temperature of the PMV and students’ thermal sensation votes while wearing masks. Likewise, a lower neutral operative temperature was found for students wearing masks than for those without masks. Students wearing masks preferred a slightly cooler environment and a significant difference was found (p = 0.001) between students’ thermal comfort votes. All of these findings indicate that there is a potential for energy savings without affecting students’ thermal comfort.

We face a significant challenge in balancing the creation of comfortable built environments with the pressing need to minimize energy consumption and environmental impacts. Meeting this challenge demands a proactive approach. This research explores the interplay between indoor environmental quality (IEQ), energy use, and environmental impacts in an educational building throughout an academic year. The methodology integrates experimental campaigns for the assessment of IEQ parameters, the analysis of data on energy consumption, and the environmental impact calculations and simulations. The IEQ monitoring results for the academic year reveal a mean indoor air temperature of 26.49 °C, a CO₂ concentration of 805.83 ppm, an illuminance of 335.83 lx, and a sound level of 51.03 dB. To assess the building’s compliance with the energy efficiency regulations, the energy use intensity was calculated to be 90.19 kWh/m²/year, The environmental impact assessment revealed a global warming potential of 120,199.82 kg CO₂e/year, with natural gas consumption contributing 61.72%. The analysis of the results uncovered challenges in IEQ and opportunities for improvement. A 1 °C reduction in the indoor temperature during the heating months may result in environmental benefits, including a potential decrease of 1.17 kg CO₂e/m². This study recommends integrated, intelligent control systems and a holistic strategy to optimize the energy use while maintaining the proper IEQ in educational settings.

In the global context of energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy, solar energy plays a key role in electricity generation, having the highest annual growth in the last years. This case study focuses on improving the overall energy efficiency of a household through thermal retrofitting, harnessing solar energy with photovoltaic (PV) systems and using air-source (ASHP) or ground-source (GSHP) heat pumps. The electricity generated by the PV systems is used to power the heat pumps and all other electricals of the household. The simulations for the ASHP and GSHP systems were conducted with GeoT*SOL software, while for electricity generation by PV systems, PV*SOL Premium software was used. The comparative results show: a decrease in the heating load to about 51.56%; an annual heating requirement of 53.88% of the normed one; an energy consumption index of about 58.34 kWh/m²·year; an annual energy consumption reduction of 88% for ASHP and 91% for GSHP, compared with the current gas heating system; 34% of the household consumption was covered by the PV system in the case of using ASHP and 36% for GSHP; and lower operating costs by 47% for the PV system with ASHP and 53% for the PV system with GSHP.

Embracing a greener future requires understanding our carbon footprint. This study analyses the greenhouse gas emissions of the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (TUCN) across all three emission scopes (1, 2, and 3) over a two-year period (2022–2023), employing the GHG Protocol methodology and One Click LCA software. In 2022, TUCN reported total greenhouse gas emissions of 7445.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e), with a significant emphasis on Scope 3 emissions (28.3% of the total). This figure decreased slightly to 7229.1 tCO₂e in 2023. On a per-person basis, emissions decreased from 0.378 tCO₂e per person in 2022 to 0.362 tCO₂e per person in 2023. The emissions per square meter also decreased from 31.2 kgCO₂e/m² in 2022 to 30.3 kgCO₂e/m² in 2023. Stationary fuel use (primarily natural gas) remained the largest contributor to emissions, accounting for approximately 62.7% and 66.9% in 2022 and 2023, respectively. TUCN aims for an 80% emissions reduction by 2030, fostering positive environmental impacts through education, energy efficiency, community engagement, and partnerships. This study provides a foundation for achieving carbon neutrality, benchmarking Romanian institutions, and contributing to national climate mitigation. The research’s findings are valuable for those seeking to integrate sustainable practices within higher education and broader urban contexts.