Professor Song Dusam of Sungkyunkwan University Reveals Realities of Energy Waste in Single-Person Households

A research team led by Professor Song Dusam from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University has revealed the realities of energy waste among single-person households.

Comparison of Energy Consumption Between Single-Person Households and Multi-Person Households Based on Actual Data. Provided by Sungkyunkwan University.

On August 9, Sungkyunkwan University announced that the research team had empirically identified the characteristics of building energy use and the causes of waste in single-person households in South Korea.

The research team measured heating, electricity, and hot water usage on an hourly basis for one year in 518 households, and quantitatively analyzed the energy consumption patterns of single-person households in conjunction with the residents' social characteristics.

The study found that, compared to multi-person households, single-person households consumed 2.69 times more heating energy, 1.66 times more electricity, and 1.55 times more hot water per person. The research team analyzed that, despite the increasing trend of single-person households, structural inefficiencies?such as building design and facility standards that are centered on multi-person households?are the causes of energy waste.

The research team emphasized the urgent need for the development of energy policies and technologies tailored to single-person households.

Professor Song Dusam stated, "This empirical study is the first analysis of energy consumption that reflects the living patterns of single-person households," and added, "It will serve as a starting point for establishing energy-saving strategies to achieve carbon neutrality."

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