Last Year, Building Energy Consumption Decreased by 4.8% Compared to Carbon Neutrality Standards

Total Building Energy Consumption in 2022: 36.36 Million TOE
Impact of Increased Gross Floor Area and Heating/Cooling Degree Days Due to New Construction

Last year, the energy consumption per unit area of buildings nationwide decreased by 4.8% compared to the baseline year for greenhouse gas reduction targets.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 31st that the total energy consumption of all buildings nationwide in 2022 was recorded at 36,362,000 TOE (tons of oil equivalent, the amount of heat generated by burning one ton of oil).

This represents an increase of 2,018,000 TOE compared to 2021, due to a 3.1% increase in total floor area from new building construction and a 5.4% rise in heating and cooling degree days (the monthly sum of the difference between the daily average temperature and the reference temperature (heating 18℃, cooling 24℃) caused by climate change).

The energy consumption per unit area was 122 kWh/㎡, showing a 2.7% increase compared to the previous year, which is lower than the total consumption growth rate of 5.9%.

Compared to 2018, considering an 8.0% decrease in heating and cooling degree days, a 10.9% increase in total floor area, and a 5.6% increase in total consumption, the final figure shows a 4.8% decrease. The year 2018 was the peak period for greenhouse gas emissions and serves as the baseline year for the 2030 and 2050 national greenhouse gas reduction targets.

However, last year's energy consumption per unit area was also the highest since 2019, raising concerns about the need for increased awareness regarding energy savings.

Lee Jeong-hee, Director of Building Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "The annual national building energy consumption trends and analyses of usage patterns by region and purpose are important statistical data that help understand the level of carbon neutrality achievement in the building sector and form the foundation for building energy policy formulation. We will continue to actively discover meaningful statistical indicators and strive to reflect them in policies going forward."