Optimization of the management of building stocks: An example of the application of managing heating systems in university buildings in Spain

The article presents the implementation of management measures that have reduced the gas consumption for space heating of a university building in Spain by 40%. The measures affect the use of the building, e.g., the use of its spaces, and the scheduling of its occupancy. They also affect the management of the heating system: a protocol for turning the system on and shutting it off has been developed. The work is part of a framework for action by the Technical University of Catalonia covering more areas and for a longer period of time, in which policies have been designed for managing buildings and a number of studies have been developed on the energy consumption of the university's buildings. The article highlights the work methodology proposed to achieve the energy savings calculated theoretically in a previous study. The implementation of these measures in the case, from November 2006 until May 2007, has reduced consumption from 113.2 kWh/m2 to 68.7 kWh/m2 a year; thus, the hypothesis has been validated. In addition, it was possible to examine methodological details more closely. Finally, the relationship between the people involved in the process (the building owners, managers and energy users) is a determining factor.