The Impact of Conservation Conditions Versus Thermal Comfort of Visitors on the Energy Demand of a Museum Refurbished with Geothermal Systems: A Virtual Case Study

Abstract

The energy demands of a museum are related mainly to the need for space heating and cooling, to provide adequate comfort to visitors. However, it is mandatory to ensure the correct microclimate for the conservation of perishable artifacts. The temperature and humidity conditions in the exhibition rooms must be compatible with each item. In this regard, each of them requires specific conditions, which sometimes could be vastly different from those of thermal comfort for people. The cultural heritage material is the parameter that most determines both the optimal average conditions and the allowed range of variability. Such requirements are widely described in the literature.

Conversely, the energy demands, energy cost and comfort conditions are parameters that depend on the specific complexity of each case study, as they are linked to the local climate, the characteristics of the buildings and the energy policy of each country. Therefore, for the purpose of this research, a specific case study in the town of Split (Croatia) was selected.

A simplified energy model of a museum was used to assess how much the microclimatic needs of the various items affect the energy demands. The boundary conditions were determined by the intersection between the need to preserve the cultural heritage and guarantee thermal comfort of visitors. Materials for which this compromise cannot be achieved have been identified. They represent the items that must be kept in air-conditioned showcases.

Finally, the costs were estimated for different types of energy systems. In particular, the traditional generation systems were compared with the new geothermal systems explicitly developed for refurbishments during the EU H2020 project GEO4CIVHIC.