• Energy Research
• 4. Education close
• KR close
• Energy and Buildings close

Abstract In this study, the quantitative optimal energy level of school buildings was identified in view of a pleasant environment, excellent functions, and effective energy use/maintenance. The energy consumption characteristics of 10 elementary schools in Daegu, located in the southern part of South Korea, were analyzed by year, unit area, and per capita, based on the data from January 2006 to December 2010, to present the specific values for the energy-saving goals of the elementary schools in South Korea. The following conclusions were arrived at: (i) for the energy consumption by energy type, electric energy is used the most, followed by gas and oil; (ii) it seems that the electric power consumption continues to increase because of the replacement of cooling/heating systems by electric systems, the installation of electric IT equipment, and the changes in the outdoor temperature; (iii) the energy consumption per unit study area of the elementary schools in South Korea in 2010 was 1040 MJ/m 2 y for electricity, 92 MJ/m 2 y for oil, and 325 MJ/m 2 y for gas; (iv) for the monthly energy consumption of the elementary schools in South Korea, it is highest in December and lowest in January and August; (v) for the energy consumption characteristics of the elementary schools in South Korea in terms of energy use, heating consumes the most energy, followed by cooling and lighting, in that order; and (vi) the monthly energy consumption per unit capita of the elementary schools in South Korea is 151–403 MJ/student·month.

Abstract Benchmarks are required to determine the environmental performance of new buildings. Through LCA, this study assessed the environmental impacts of 23 elementary school buildings in South Korea. By conducting statistical analysis (Pearson correlation analysis, partial correlation analysis, and Mann-Whitney test), gross floor area, latitude, and longitude were influence factors which cause the differences in environmental impacts among buildings. The differences in environmental impacts by gross floor area can be considered by defining the functional unit as one square meter of floor area. The differences in environmental impacts by region can be considered after dividing 23 elementary school buildings according to latitude and longitude. Based on the results of the two-step cluster analysis and the Mann-Whitney test on latitude and longitude, the environmental impacts of 23 elementary school buildings were divided into two clusters, with the exception of human carcinogenic potential and human non-carcinogenic potential. Therefore, this study presented the benchmarks in two clusters. For instance, the benchmarks for global warming potential in Clusters One and Two were 3.70E + 03 and 2.53E + 03 kg-CO 2 eq./m 2 , respectively. The benchmark for the human carcinogenic potential was 8.63E − 08 cases can / m 2 . The benchmarks are expected to be used in determining the environmental performance of new elementary school buildings.

Abstract To solve global warming issues, the whole world is moving toward establishing the post-2020 climate regime. As part of its efforts, each country is promoting the reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions by setting up its national carbon emissions reduction target (CERT). Therefore, this study proposed the optimal PV system implementation strategy to achieve the national CERT for educational facilities. The mono-crystalline silicon PV system is economically profitable (NPV25 ≥ 0 and SIR25 ≥ 1) and superior by 14.57% to the poly-crystalline silicon PV system in terms of its national CERT achievement rate. Also, its national CERT achievement rate was estimated within the range of 16.98–607.56% by type of educational facility and by region. Thus, the budget for PV system implementation should be determined by type of educational facility and region. This study can help policymakers establish the optimal PV system implementation strategy in the central government (i.e., the Ministry of Education in South Korea, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Department for Education in the U.K.) and local governments (i.e., the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, the New York City Department of Education, and the City of London Local Education Authority).

Abstract As the area of urban forests rapidly decrease in size, there is growing interest in green roofs as the only alternative to urban forests. This study aimed to evaluate economic and environmental effects of functional improvement in elementary school facilities by applying various improvement scenarios based on green roof systems (GRSs) with the combination of energy-saving measures (ESMs). A total of 16 possible improvement scenarios from the combination of GRSs and ESMs were developed, and energy modeling (Energy Plus ver. 6.0), based on the (i) characteristics of building, (ii) regional climate, and (iii) season, was performed. Using the energy modeling result, the amount of the CO2 emission reduction by energy savings and the CO2 absorption by GRSs’ plants was calculated, and a life cycle cost analysis was conducted with the consideration of the life cycle CO2 (LCCO2). The results of this study can be used (i) to introduce the most appropriate ESMs for the specific facility when applying GRSs, (ii) to decide which location is proper to implement GRSs considering characteristics of regional climate, and (iii) to select energy- and cost-efficient elementary school when applying GRSs.