Energy-Saving Techniques for Reducing CO2 Emissions in Elementary Schools

Global warming has grown into a significantly intense global issue, prompting all nations to exert various efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emission, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The South Korean government is likewise working on reducing its greenhouse gas emission and, as part of its effort, it is currently promoting the Green-School Project. This project aims to create energy-saving schools by renovating deteriorated school buildings. In this study, CO2 emission reduction scenarios are sought by applying energy-saving techniques (ESTs) to educational facilities, and an optimal scenario is created by performing life cycle cost (LCC) analysis for each scenario. To this end, the amounts of energy consumption and CO2 emission reduction in two schools were evaluated using DesignBuilder simulation, based on 15 scenarios with combinations of four ESTs. LCC analysis was also performed. In terms of energy efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, and LCC analysis, the results showed that the most effective scenario is replacing the existing lighting with light-emitting diode (LED) lighting. The results also showed that there is a difference in energy efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, and LCC analysis based on the type and size of the school building. If the results of this study are considered in policy-making efforts by the Korea Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, CO2 emission in the maintenance phase for South Korean educational facilities is expected to be reduced, and an optimal maintenance process using a limited budget will also be feasible.