'Seoul National University' Tops Energy Consumption for 10 Consecutive Years... Large Building Energy Use Increases Despite Energy Crisis

Among 316 High Energy Consumption Buildings, 197 Increased Energy Usage Compared to Previous Year
Energy Consumption Rankings for 2021 Released for Universities, Hospitals, Department Stores, and Other High Energy Consumption Buildings

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Although energy saving has become a hot topic amid the global energy crisis, energy consumption in major energy-intensive buildings such as universities, hospitals, department stores, and office facilities in Seoul has rather increased.

According to Seoul City on the 22nd, Seoul National University ranked first in energy usage in the Seoul area for 10 consecutive years, followed by LG Science Park (EAST), KT Mokdong IDC 1 & 2, and LG Gasan IDC in terms of energy consumption. Among the 316 energy-intensive buildings, about two-thirds, or 197 buildings, increased their energy usage compared to the previous year. Notably, while the total energy consumption in Seoul decreased by 11.8% between 2017 and 2020, the average energy consumption of energy-intensive buildings increased by 7.6% during the same period.

“Energy-intensive buildings” refer to buildings with an annual energy consumption of 2000 TOE (tons of oil equivalent) or more. As of the end of 2021, there are 316 such buildings in Seoul, consuming 25.8% of the total energy used by all buildings in the city.

Seoul National University has been identified as the facility with the highest energy usage in the Seoul area for 10 consecutive years since 2012. Despite efforts to reduce consumption by managing electricity usage through an integrated management system and replacing equipment with high-efficiency facilities, energy consumption increased by 2,543 TOE compared to the previous year. All of the top 10 buildings with the highest energy consumption per unit area were data centers. The energy consumption per unit area of data centers was 0.386 TOE, 5.6 times higher than the average for energy-intensive buildings (0.069 TOE). This is attributed to the rapid increase in demand for data centers due to the Internet of Things (IoT) and their characteristic of operating 24 hours a day at a constant temperature, resulting in high energy consumption.

By sector, energy-intensive buildings included 45 department stores and 30 hospitals, with total energy consumption and energy consumption per unit area highest in 24-hour operating data centers and hospitals equipped with advanced medical devices. By sector, the highest energy consumption per unit area was recorded at Kwangwoon University (university), Gangnam Seongsim Hospital (hospital), Hotel Shilla (hotel), Costco Korea Yangpyeong Branch (department store), SK Telecom Seongsu Office (office), KT IDC2 (IDC/research institute), and the Korea Meteorological Administration (public). In particular, Kwangwoon University used 0.111 TOE per unit area, more than three times the school average of 0.031 TOE, highlighting the need for special management such as energy efficiency improvements.

Energy consumption increased in 197 energy-intensive buildings... Most located in Jung-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu

Among the 316 energy-intensive buildings last year, 106 reduced their energy consumption compared to the previous year, with a total reduction of 19,924 TOE. The reduction in energy consumption at KB Kookmin Bank Yeouido Data Center, which relocated its facilities, and The-K Twin Towers, which experienced increased vacancy rates, was due to external factors. Lotte Data Communication and LG Science Park saw improvements in building energy efficiency through the transition to high-efficiency heating and cooling systems and the use of renewable energy.

Energy consumption increased in 197 buildings compared to the previous year, with a total increase of 90,393 TOE. The top 10 buildings with the largest increases were Park One Tower, KT Mokdong IDC2, the east site of LG Science Park, and Seoul National University. Most of the increases were attributed to higher occupancy rates, increased users, and facility expansions. The Yeouido Park One Tower showed the largest increase, rising by 18,641 TOE compared to the previous year, representing an increase of over 700% in energy consumption.

Among the 25 autonomous districts in Seoul, Jung-gu had the highest number of energy-intensive buildings with 41 locations, more than three times the average of 12.6 buildings. In contrast, Jungnang-gu had only one, the Seoul Medical Center. In Jung-gu, which has the most energy-intensive buildings, five of the 21 energy-intensive hotels in Seoul are located, along with five department stores, indicating a concentration of commercial buildings. Yeongdeungpo-gu, ranked second, has a concentration of financial-related office facilities centered around Yeouido, while Seocho-gu, ranked third, hosts many corporate offices and research facilities affiliated with large companies such as Samsung (4 locations) and LG (4 locations).

Meanwhile, Seoul City is making multifaceted efforts to improve energy efficiency in large buildings, including energy-intensive buildings. It is promoting an interest-free loan program of up to 2 billion KRW for private building energy efficiency projects. Additionally, the city is introducing a “Building Greenhouse Gas Cap System” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy savings in medium to large buildings over 3,000㎡. The city also promotes energy saving in energy-intensive buildings by publicly disclosing annual rankings and inspecting compliance with appropriate heating temperatures during winter.

Yoo Yeon-sik, Head of Seoul City’s Climate and Environment Headquarters, said, “Despite the energy-saving and efficiency efforts of Seoul citizens, it is regrettable that energy consumption in some energy-intensive buildings has not decreased.” He added, “As the authority for building energy efficiency management will be transferred from the central government next year, we will encourage energy consumption reduction in large buildings through measures such as the Building Greenhouse Gas Cap System.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.