Activities on assessing energy efficiency of the University buildings within Case Study 1 of the ENPOWER project
Energy-efficient improvements to building envelopes not only reduce energy poverty, but they also transform the comfort of buildings. Indoor air quality and pollutants that may be present in the air can cause discomfort, affect learning and attendance performance, and ultimately cause long-term and short-term health problems such as fatigue, headaches, and loss of concentration.
ENPOWER Case Study 1’s objective is to examine factors that affect building’s energy efficiency and users comfort using examples of representative public educational buildings from various construction and/or refurbishment periods. The study focuses on three key buildings which function as both administrative and educational facilities:
1. The Academy of Arts, and the Rectorate,
2. The Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy and the Faculty of Forestry,
3. The Faculty of Physical Education and Sport.
The measurements and the surveys have been continuously conducted since November 2024. On the example building of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy and the Faculty of Forestry, we present the measurement and survey activities that were conducted in December 2024 and February 2025. When measurements were taken in the amphitheater in December 2024, 60 students were also surveyed in the same room. In February 2025, the ENPOWER team designed an online survey and re-established measurements for analyzing the quality of the indoor environment in real time. Although measurements and surveys are ongoing, responses have been collected from 147 amphitheater users so far.
Location of the device for measuring air quality parameters and surveying students in lecture room/amphitheater, December 2024 and February 2025 (source – ENPOWER UNIBL)
The findings of this research will benefit multiple stakeholders, including the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology of Republika Srpska (B&H), local municipalities, energy managers, engineers, and citizens. By publishing results on energy-efficient measures and their impact on user comfort, the ENPOWER project aims to support informed decision-making and contribute to reducing energy poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
