Energy and carbon reduction through green remodeling of daycare centers in Seoul

This study analyzed the energy and carbon impacts of green remodeling initiatives on 20 daycare centers in Seoul, South Korea, focusing on aging public facilities. The findings demonstrate the substantial impact of green remodeling in enhancing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Notably, energy demand decreased by a maximum of 43 %, while energy consumption was reduced by up to 67 %. Primary energy consumption also saw a maximum reduction of 46 %. In terms of carbon emissions, levels decreased from 376,850.10 kg CO2eq to 103,270.60 kg CO2eq after remodeling, representing a 27.40 % reduction. Energy consumption reductions were observed across multiple categories, including heating, cooling, lighting, ventilation, and renewable energy. The average carbon emission reduction per unit area was 7.09 kg CO2eq, with the highest reduction reaching 23.74 kg CO2eq per square meter. The vegetation replacement effect, equivalent to planting 12,025 trees, underscores the significant contribution of green remodeling to carbon sequestration and environmental sustainability. Additionally, green remodeling contributed 0.03 % towards South Korea’s 2030 short-term carbon neutrality goal and 0.09 % towards the 2050 long-term goal. These results emphasize the effectiveness of green remodeling strategies in aging public buildings and support the need to expand such initiatives to achieve substantial environmental benefits, aligning with national and international carbon neutrality objectives.