Potential opportunities for energy conservation in existing buildings on university campus: A field survey in Korea

• Published in: Energy and buildings Vol. 78; pp. 176 - 182
• Main Authors: Chung, Min Hee, Rhee, Eon Ku
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier B.V 01.08.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Building technical equipments; Buildings; Buildings. Public works; Education and research facilities; Energy management and energy conservation in building; Environmental engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Potential opportunity for energy saving; Retrofit; Types of buildings; University buildings; Asia; South Korea; Korea; Korea, Rep; Retrofit; Potential opportunity for energy saving; University buildings; Energy analysis; Methodology; In situ; Energy savings; University building; Survey; Energy conservation; Existing building; University campus; Strategy; Rehabilitation
• ISSN: 0378-7788
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.04.018

•This study conducted an on-site survey of existing university buildings to determine their current energy consumption patterns.•We categorized these buildings again based on the criteria of their construction years and energy consumption.•A field survey was conducted of eight building blocks with the goal of proposing potential opportunities for energy conservation.•Application schemes of the energy saving strategies were proposed for each of energy consumption categories.•The energy analyses of the surveyed buildings determined the potential for energy conservation in the range 6%–29%. Buildings in university campuses have been increased energy consumption. This is despite their greater potential for energy reduction due to the low building densities within the campus, as well as their reduced operational periods during vacations that coincide with peak energy demand seasons. This study conducted an on-site survey of existing university buildings to determine their current energy consumption patterns. Subsequently, it determined energy saving strategies by analyzing the buildings’ potential for energy conservation by implementing strategies for improving their energy efficiencies. The energy analyses of the surveyed buildings determined the potential for energy conservation in the range 6%–30%. University buildings are crucial to retrofit the existing buildings into low-energy buildings instead of controlling the energy consumption levels. This necessity is based on the consideration of the characteristics of university buildings utilized by a large number of undefined users rather than the operators themselves. An additional effect of applying energy conservation measures in university buildings is the offering of space for education that can contribute to raising the general awareness regarding low-energy buildings.