Potential Energy Benchmark for Lecture Timetable Problem

Energy efficiency does not concern only building structures, and electrical and thermal systems, but also the management of the building as a whole. From the point of view of Universities, lectures timetabling is one of the most important issues in building management. However, until to now, the variables considered in the schedule of the lectures do not include energy consumption or, in general, sustainability indices. Nevertheless, the use of a lecture room requires the use of both electrical and thermal energy, differing in the energy requirement according to timing, season and geographical exposure. In this paper, the Potential Energy Benchmark (PEB) of lecture rooms is defined so as to assign priority, in the timetabling, to the most energy-efficient lecture rooms. The PEB measures the potential thermal energy required for warming up or cooling the room, as well as the potential electrical energy for lighting, in different time slots throughout the day. The PEB shifts depend on the structural constraints of the lecture room considered, such as its radiation and exposure to natural light. The final goal is to solve the lecture timetabling problem, minimizing energy consumption, and consequently the carbon footprint of the University in the view of teaching activities. Once the optimal energy planning has been identified, a comparison with the traditional planning will be proposed, so as to quantify the energy and CO2 savings reached.