Assessment of building energy performance in vocational high school building for lighting and thermal comfort: A review of two regions

Educational buildings, especially for vocational secondary education institution, require comfort so as the teaching and learning process takes place appropriately. The vast Indonesian territory across the equator results in division of two regions (north and south). Being in a tropical climate zone with different climatic conditions inevitably leads to different assessments for the inhabitants. In general, the use of natural lighting and ventilation will reduce the use of building energy loads. Along with revitalization efforts of Vocational Schools, some facilities for vocational secondary schools need to be given attention related to energy performance, especially in terms of thermal and lighting comfort. The present study aims to determine the perceptions of the occupants of vocational secondary school toward the building conditions based on building design criteria. Analysis and identification of criteria were carried out by using the Important Performance Analysis (IPA) method. A total of 216 respondents, consisting of students and teachers, from four vocational schools in Malang City (representing the position of the south of the equator), and three vocational schools in Medan City (representing the position of the north of the equator) were involved in this study. The results indicate that most of the design criteria are perceived as important to be followed up from the point of view of students, both in the north and south positions. Categories of the design criteria that are considered important to be improved are: building location, building environment, building plans, structural design and building facade, artificial ventilation and lighting systems.