CONSIDERAÇÕES SOBRE O RACIONAMENTO DO USO DO AR CONDICIONADO EM SALAS DE AULA NO PERÍODO DA MANHÃ NO CLIMA QUENTE E ÚMIDO.

Abstract

The use of artificial air conditioning is increasing in schools. The main justification is the need for a more uniform environment with lower temperature variation, lower external noise interference and greater glare control by sun shading devices. On the other hand, the negative aspects are the increase in electric energy consumption and the poor indoor air quality. Thus, the Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba - IFPB, campus João Pessoa, as well as the other campuses, has replaced the fans for air conditioners appliances in all academic and administrative environments, increasing the consumption of electricity. However, due to the reduction of 13% of the campus budget for the year 2019, several cost containment measures were implemented, for example the shutdown of the air conditioners from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the viability of this recommendation, as well as propose alternatives for the thermal suitability of the environments and for the reduction of the electric energy consumption. Thermal monitoring was performed in the comfort classroom of the CSTDI/IFPB in the summer, with analysis restricted to the morning period, course opening hours. The data evaluation was performed according to methodology proposed by the ASHRAE-55/2017 standard for naturally conditioned spaces. It was found that the thermal conditions can be considered acceptable by up to 80% of users in only 49% of the morning hours when considering wind speeds of up to 0.3 m/s, however when it is possible to adjust the air velocity between 0,3 m/s and 1.2 m/s, thermal acceptability can reach 97% of the time. These results confirm that it is possible to obtain thermal comfort without artificial air conditioning during summer mornings, if air movement control is allowed according to user preferences.