- Faculty of Environmental Engineering
- Faculty Departments
- Department of Building Energetics
Department of Building Energetics
About the Department
Department Activity Areas
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Direct collaboration with industry and strong labour market demand for graduates.
The Department maintains active cooperation with leading companies in Lithuania and internationally.The Department maintains active cooperation with leading companies in Lithuania and abroad operating in heating, ventilation, cooling, heat and gas supply, and renewable energy systems. Its partners include design, manufacturing, and maintenance companies, ministries, agencies, and related institutions. Graduates of the Department are highly valued in the labour market, as evidenced by scholarships awarded by three major companies to the best-performing students. Students gain hands-on experience during their studies and frequently begin their professional careers before graduation.
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Advanced Building and Energy Systems Laboratories
The Department has modern laboratories for student and researcher experiments.The Department operates modern laboratories that enable experimental work with real building microclimate systems. Research and educational studies are carried out using thermography, digital twins, and computer modelling, supporting the development of innovative solutions to enhance the efficiency of energy transformation, supply, and consumption.
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International visibility and participation in European projects
The Department’s academic staff and researchers actively participate in international and national research and innovation projects.Academic staff and researchers of the Department are actively engaged in Horizon Europe, COST, LIFE, and other international and national research and innovation programmes. Students are integrated into research groups, where they gain practical experience, develop expertise, and build professional networks at an international level.
Building Energy and Microclimate Systems Laboratory
This laboratory belongs to the Department of Building Energy Engineering.
The BEMS Laboratory researches, develops, and applies solutions for building energy supply, as well as energy consumption systems and processes. Its research contributes to sustainable energy use and the development of modern buildings.
- Providing research and knowledge dissemination services on building energy performance, energy efficiency, and indoor microclimate quality;
- Researching and implementing renewable energy integration solutions in building energy systems;
- Assessing the life cycle and thermodynamic performance of building energy supply and consumption systems;
- Integrating, modelling, and planning building energy supply and use systems and processes.
The laboratory’s services are listed below.
TRNSYS 17.0 (building microclimate and energy demand), DesignBuilder (interaction between building envelope elements, systems, microclimate, and energy demand), Polysun (processes in solar energy converters and their systems), EnergyPro (regional/area energy supply, particularly co- and trigeneration), PHPP (supporting design software for the Passive House standard), SimaPro (life cycle assessment), HEAT2/HEAT3 (two- and three-dimensional transient heat transfer), and PHOENICS (computational fluid dynamics).
The research covers the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal energy, biofuels, and others to meet building energy needs. The work includes analysis of current building energy demand, which allows energy and capacity balances to be established. A technical assessment of renewable energy integration is carried out, conceptual technical solutions are proposed, and economic and environmental evaluations of the suggested alternatives are performed. The search for financial support for selected implementation options is also undertaken at national and EU levels.
A building energy audit includes assessment of the technical condition of the building envelope and engineering systems, analysis of energy consumption, and energy normalisation calculations. On-site measurements are carried out using thermography, thermal resistance testing, and airtightness analysis. A calibrated energy model is created based on measured and historical energy data. Energy-saving measures are proposed, and their economic feasibility is evaluated. Specialists may also participate in ESCO projects and provide concept development and technical and economic assessment of heat sources and integrated solutions.
Specialists develop territorial heating plans and conduct feasibility studies on sustainable energy supply for settlements, focusing on renewable energy development and environmental impact reduction. They also prepare documentation required for project funding.
The Centre works with responsible real estate developers planning energy-efficient residential areas. The Department offers consultancy at the design stage, support in joining EU demonstration programmes, and assistance in preparing funding applications.
Thermographic analysis of thermal structures using images (photographs) and dynamic processes in video format is carried out. The thermal performance of building envelope elements is assessed, and potential construction defects and specific problem areas are identified. Measurements of the actual thermal resistance of envelope elements are then performed in these areas. Conclusions are provided, and the results serve as a basis for defining defect remediation requirements.
In the assessed building, measurements are carried out of air and surface temperatures, relative humidity, CO₂ levels, airtightness, lighting, and noise. Ventilation airflow rates are also measured. The collected data are analysed, and conclusions are provided on possible solutions to identified problems.
A pressure test is performed in the building or room, with thermal imaging used to identify leakage areas. The air change rate at 50 Pa pressure difference is measured, and the results are used for building certification purposes.
Measurements of air velocity and duct pressure are performed to support the adjustment and balancing of ventilation systems.
These studies determine the seasonal energy efficiency of low-capacity (up to several tens of kW) energy converters, such as heat exchangers, heat pumps, refrigeration units, and boilers. The operating characteristics of these systems are analysed, and the impact of new components or equipment modifications on performance is assessed. Recommendations are provided to improve efficiency and optimise operating and energy transformation modes.
Head of the Laboratory:
Dr. Dovydas Rimdžius
Phone: +370 5 251 2129
Email: dovydas.rimdzius@vilniustech.lt
Partners
Department of Building Energetics maintains active cooperation with social and business partners.
Department Staff
The Department’s academic staff are recognised professionals with strong expertise in sustainability principles, integrating advanced technologies and teaching methods into their work. They are actively engaged in research and international projects and maintain close cooperation with the alumni community, which is involved in the study process. Lecturers are highly regarded by students for their teaching quality, professional competence, and constructive communication.
- Administration
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Prof. Dr. Violeta MotuzienėHead
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Dr. Dovydas RimdžiusHead of Laboratory(ies)