Solar Performance Indicators and Retrofitting of a Rural School in France

This chapter delves into the energy performance enhancement of a rural school in the French Alps through a combination of passive and active retrofitting strategies. The study begins by outlining the principles of bioclimatic architecture, which aims to achieve thermal comfort with minimal energy consumption by interacting with the local climate. The research evaluates the effectiveness of passive strategies such as improved thermal insulation and upgraded window glazing, as well as active strategies like optimized heating control. The case study focuses on Ecole du Chinaillon, a school with distinct old and new sections, each with varying insulation and glazing characteristics. Five retrofit scenarios are investigated, ranging from baseline conditions to the integration of multiple retrofitting measures. The chapter introduces innovative solar performance indicators proposed by Chesné et al., which assess the building's ability to utilize environmental resources efficiently. The results highlight the significant reduction in heating demands achieved through the retrofitting strategies, although variations in effectiveness are noted across different zones. The analysis of solar indicators reveals insights into the building's potential to harness solar energy, with a focus on the exploited and coincident potentials. The study concludes with a discussion on the implications of these findings for future energy-efficient building designs and the need for further research on summer comfort and renewable energy integration.