Timetabling optimization of classrooms and self-study rooms in university teaching buildings based on the building controls virtual test bed platform considering energy efficiency

The energy consumption of a teaching building can be effectively reduced by timetable optimization. However, in most studies that explore methods to reduce building energy consumption by course timetable optimization, self-study activities are not considered. In this study, an MATLAB-EnergyPlus joint simulation model was constructed based on the Building Controls Virtual Test Bed platform to reduce building energy consumption by optimizing the course schedule and opening strategy of self-study rooms in a holistic way. The following results were obtained by taking a university in Xi'an as an example: (1) The energy saving percentages obtained by timetabling optimization during the heating season examination week, heating season non-examination week, cooling season examination week, and cooling season non-examination week are 35%, 29.4%, 13.4%, and 13.4%, respectively. (2) Regarding the temporal arrangement, most courses are scheduled in the morning during the cooling season and afternoon during the heating season. Regarding the spatial arrangement, most courses are arranged in the central section of the middle floors of the building. (3) During the heating season, the additional building energy consumption incurred by the opening of self-study rooms decreases when duty heating temperature increases.