Evaluating Energy Savings and Operational Carbon Reduction in Existing New Zealand School Buildings by Adhering to Various Energy Code Requirements

Jin Zhou¹, Brian H. W. Guo¹, Fuad Baba^2,3, Fatma Abdelaal⁴, Aniebietabasi Ackley⁵

1. University of Canterbury
2. British University in Dubai
3. Université de Sherbrooke
4. JLL New Zealand
5. Victoria University of Wellington

Published in Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024), edited by Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, Farzad Rahimian and Mahesh Babu Purushothaman. Springer Nature, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, volume 591, 2025, pages 743 to 753. DOI 10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_72.

Abstract

Energy retrofitting can enhance indoor environmental quality, reduce energy consumption, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in aging buildings. However, in New Zealand, energy efficiency mandates primarily focus on new residential and commercial constructions, leaving a gap in standards or guidelines for retrofitting existing school buildings. This study addresses this by assessing the energy-saving potential of a school in Christchurch under various retrofit scenarios. The research begins by creating a baseline energy model using DesignBuilder. The assessment follows a four-step process: first, calculating the energy use intensity (EUI) for heating and/or cooling according to the existing building; second, determining the EUI based on the minimum requirements outlined in The Designing Quality Learning Spaces; third, calculating the EUI aligned with the H1 Energy Efficiency Building Code, which targets new structural buildings; and finally, assessing a retrofit scenario following the EnerPHit standard. Operational carbon reduction analysis is also conducted. Results show traditional retrofits achieve significant energy savings, while EnerPHit standards offer substantial reductions in heating and cooling EUI. Improving the building envelope significantly reduces operational carbon emissions. This study offers practical insights for developing effective retrofit plans, comparing different standards, and achieving desired outcomes in energy efficiency and environmental impact.

Keywords

Session

Presented in Track L, Saturday 9 November 2024, 11:00 to 13:00, room WG 1020, Auckland University of Technology. Session chair Assoc. Prof. Timothy Adekunle.

How to Cite

Zhou, J., Guo, B. H. W., Baba, F., Abdelaal, F., & Ackley, A. (2025). Evaluating Energy Savings and Operational Carbon Reduction in Existing New Zealand School Buildings by Adhering to Various Energy Code Requirements. In A. GhaffarianHoseini, A. GhaffarianHoseini, F. Rahimian, & M. B. Purushothaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024) (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Vol. 591, pp. 743–753). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_72

About the Conference

Presented at SASBE 2024, the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, held in Auckland from 7 to 9 November 2024 and chaired by Professors Ali and Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, founders of GDI Academy. The version of record is published by Springer Nature; this page is the conference archive record kept by GDI Academy.