Buildings are responsible for a significant share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, improving energy efficiency in this sector is considered one of the key priorities of climate policies and sustainable development strategies. One effective approach in this regard is the implementation of smart building service systems, particularly the intelligent management of boiler rooms, which play an important role in monitoring, controlling, and optimizing energy consumption.

As one of Iran’s green universities, the University of Zanjan has implemented smart boiler room systems across its buildings as part of its sustainable energy management policies. With 14 faculties, 15 dormitory complexes, central administrative buildings, a central dining hall, an indoor swimming pool, and other service facilities, the university has deployed intelligent boiler room management systems in most of its buildings. Designed to accurately control hot water temperature, regulate the operation of boilers and pumps, and reduce fossil fuel consumption, these systems have led to considerable reductions in energy costs and improved heating system efficiency over time.

Figure 1. Natural gas consumption in the central administrative building before and after the implementation of the smart boiler room system. The results indicate a noticeable reduction in gas consumption under smart operation conditions.

Despite these measures and ongoing management controls, energy consumption for space heating remains considerable. This issue is particularly evident in the dormitory complexes located on campus, where energy use has been reported to be higher than in other university buildings. This situation indicates that smartening mechanical systems alone, without addressing the condition of the building envelope and the quality of thermal insulation, cannot fully achieve energy optimization goals. This contradiction between high energy consumption and low user satisfaction is one of the clearest indicators of poor thermal performance in the building envelope.

At present, seven dormitory complexes for female students and eight dormitory complexes for male students are operating within the university. All of these buildings face challenges in achieving efficient heating energy performance. In this context, formal letters were submitted in 2025 by architecture students and dormitory residents to the University’s Technical and Construction Office. Signed by a considerable number of students, these letters referred to feelings of coldness in indoor spaces, air infiltration around windows, and dissatisfaction with thermal comfort conditions despite the high consumption of heating energy.

In response to these requests, a series of technical assessments were carried out by university experts and engineers. The findings revealed that one of the main causes of energy loss was cold air infiltration resulting from inadequate sealing and improper adjustment of doors and windows. In older buildings, such issues are expected due to the deterioration of operable building components over time. From a technical perspective, cold air infiltration through gaps around openings increases the heating load on building systems and consequently raises energy consumption significantly. In addition to imposing higher operating costs, this issue also reduces the quality of thermal comfort within indoor environments.(Figure 2)

Several solutions have been proposed to address this challenge, including replacing double-glazed aluminum windows with triple-glazed UPVC windows, installing standard weather-stripping systems, correcting frame alignments, and implementing periodic maintenance programs. These measures can play an important role in reducing energy losses, preventing cold air infiltration, and improving thermal comfort for occupants. Furthermore, educating building users on the efficient use of heating systems and energy-saving practices can help reduce unnecessary energy consumption.Overall, implementing a combination of physical building improvements, enhanced control systems, and increased user awareness can provide a comprehensive approach to energy management in university buildings. This experience demonstrates that achieving the goals of a green university requires a multidimensional perspective that incorporates technology, proper maintenance, and user participation. Ultimately, the implementation of such measures can contribute significantly to sustainable development objectives and improved energy efficiency at the University of Zanjan.

In addition to reducing operational costs, the smart boiler room systems implemented at the University of Zanjan have played an important role in decreasing fossil fuel consumption and consequently reducing emissions associated with building heating. Although improving energy performance in some buildings still requires complementary measures related to the building envelope and thermal insulation, the implementation of this system represents an important step toward data-driven energy management and the establishment of infrastructure for future decision-making. The University of Zanjan’s experience demonstrates that smart technologies can facilitate a more accurate identification of energy loss points and enable more effective allocation of resources for building retrofits. This approach is aligned with global objectives related to carbon emission reduction, energy efficiency improvement, and the development of sustainable infrastructure, and may serve as a model for other educational institutions and large facilities with high energy demands.

On a broader scale, the implementation of such projects in universities is consistent with global approaches to sustainable buildings and carbon emission reduction. Many international green building standards and energy performance assessment systems emphasize the simultaneous optimization of building service systems and building envelope performance. This highlights the fact that energy management extends beyond mechanical equipment and requires an integrated approach encompassing building design, operation, and maintenance. In this regard, the development of smart energy monitoring systems and the collection of building performance data can provide opportunities for more detailed analysis of consumption patterns and the identification of critical points of energy loss. Furthermore, integrating these data into management and decision-making processes can contribute to the continuous improvement of energy performance across the university. Ultimately, this experience demonstrates that the transition toward a green university is a gradual and multidimensional process that can only be achieved through the combination of advanced technologies, infrastructure improvements, and the active participation of users.

Figure 2. A temporary solution used by students to deal with cold air infiltration through window gaps; an issue that was also identified during technical inspections as one of the factors contributing to energy loss.