A systematic approach to energy efficiency management of university buildings as a factor in reducing operating costs in the long term

Abstract

In the context of global challenges to energy security and climate change, higher education institutions face the need to significantly reduce energy consumption and related operating costs. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of a systematic approach to energy efficiency management in university buildings that integrates technological, organizational, and behavioral aspects. Based on a multifactorial analysis of data from 47 university campuses, it was found that the introduction of integrated energy management systems can achieve a 25-38% reduction in energy consumption with a payback period of 3.5-5.2 years. The study shows that universities using a systematic approach reduce operating costs by an average of 0.35-0.47 million rubles per 1,000 m2 of area annually. An analysis of the long-term economic effects has shown that financial benefits accumulate exponentially with a planning horizon of more than 10 years by preventing major repairs and extending the life of engineering systems. A significant contribution to energy saving is made by the integration of automation systems with machine learning algorithms, which provides an additional reduction in energy consumption by 12-17%. A model of energy efficiency management has been developed that takes into account the specifics of educational institutions, which includes four interrelated levels: strategic, tactical, operational and technical. The presented results form a methodological basis for the development of long-term energy management strategies in educational institutions in order to sustainably reduce operating costs.