Evaluation of Energy and CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction Through Envelope Retrofitting: A Case Study of a Public Building in South Korea Conducted Using Utility Billing Data
This study empirically evaluates the energy and carbon reduction effects of an envelope retrofit applied to an aging public building in South Korea. Unlike previous studies that primarily relied on simulation-based analyses, this work fills the empirical research gap by using actual utility billing...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4129 |
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| author | Hansol Lee Gyeong-Seok Choi |
| author_facet | Hansol Lee Gyeong-Seok Choi |
| author_sort | Hansol Lee |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study empirically evaluates the energy and carbon reduction effects of an envelope retrofit applied to an aging public building in South Korea. Unlike previous studies that primarily relied on simulation-based analyses, this work fills the empirical research gap by using actual utility billing data collected over one pre-retrofit year (2019) and two post-retrofit years (2023–2024). The retrofit included improvements to exterior walls, roofs, and windows, aiming to enhance thermal insulation and airtightness. The analysis revealed that monthly electricity consumption was reduced by 14.7% in 2023 and 8.0% in 2024 compared to that in the baseline year, with corresponding decreases in electricity costs and carbon dioxide emissions. Seasonal variations were evident: energy savings were significant in the winter due to reduced heating demand, while cooling energy use slightly increased in the summer, likely due to diminished solar heat gains resulting from improved insulation. By addressing both heating and cooling impacts, this study offers practical insights into the trade-offs of envelope retrofitting. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge by demonstrating the real-world performance of retrofit technologies and providing data-driven evidence that can inform policies and strategies for improving energy efficiency in public buildings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0545720ce8b14a269cf7bf268dc0d25c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-0545720ce8b14a269cf7bf268dc0d25c2025-08-20T03:36:34ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-08-011815412910.3390/en18154129Evaluation of Energy and CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction Through Envelope Retrofitting: A Case Study of a Public Building in South Korea Conducted Using Utility Billing DataHansol Lee0Gyeong-Seok Choi1Department of Building Energy Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, Goyang 10223, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Building Energy Research, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, Goyang 10223, Republic of KoreaThis study empirically evaluates the energy and carbon reduction effects of an envelope retrofit applied to an aging public building in South Korea. Unlike previous studies that primarily relied on simulation-based analyses, this work fills the empirical research gap by using actual utility billing data collected over one pre-retrofit year (2019) and two post-retrofit years (2023–2024). The retrofit included improvements to exterior walls, roofs, and windows, aiming to enhance thermal insulation and airtightness. The analysis revealed that monthly electricity consumption was reduced by 14.7% in 2023 and 8.0% in 2024 compared to that in the baseline year, with corresponding decreases in electricity costs and carbon dioxide emissions. Seasonal variations were evident: energy savings were significant in the winter due to reduced heating demand, while cooling energy use slightly increased in the summer, likely due to diminished solar heat gains resulting from improved insulation. By addressing both heating and cooling impacts, this study offers practical insights into the trade-offs of envelope retrofitting. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge by demonstrating the real-world performance of retrofit technologies and providing data-driven evidence that can inform policies and strategies for improving energy efficiency in public buildings.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4129public building retrofitbuilding envelope retrofitCO<sub>2</sub> emission reductionutility billing data analysis |
| spellingShingle | Hansol Lee Gyeong-Seok Choi Evaluation of Energy and CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction Through Envelope Retrofitting: A Case Study of a Public Building in South Korea Conducted Using Utility Billing Data Energies public building retrofit building envelope retrofit CO<sub>2</sub> emission reduction utility billing data analysis |
| title | Evaluation of Energy and CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction Through Envelope Retrofitting: A Case Study of a Public Building in South Korea Conducted Using Utility Billing Data |
| title_full | Evaluation of Energy and CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction Through Envelope Retrofitting: A Case Study of a Public Building in South Korea Conducted Using Utility Billing Data |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of Energy and CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction Through Envelope Retrofitting: A Case Study of a Public Building in South Korea Conducted Using Utility Billing Data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of Energy and CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction Through Envelope Retrofitting: A Case Study of a Public Building in South Korea Conducted Using Utility Billing Data |
| title_short | Evaluation of Energy and CO<sub>2</sub> Reduction Through Envelope Retrofitting: A Case Study of a Public Building in South Korea Conducted Using Utility Billing Data |
| title_sort | evaluation of energy and co sub 2 sub reduction through envelope retrofitting a case study of a public building in south korea conducted using utility billing data |
| topic | public building retrofit building envelope retrofit CO<sub>2</sub> emission reduction utility billing data analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4129 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hansollee evaluationofenergyandcosub2subreductionthroughenveloperetrofittingacasestudyofapublicbuildinginsouthkoreaconductedusingutilitybillingdata AT gyeongseokchoi evaluationofenergyandcosub2subreductionthroughenveloperetrofittingacasestudyofapublicbuildinginsouthkoreaconductedusingutilitybillingdata |