Yano, J.; Asari, M.; Hirai, Y.; Sakai, S. (2012) Proceedings of EcoBalance2012, pp. P.139
Achieving a sustainable campus is a goal that has been set by universities worldwide. In early 2011, Kyoto University commenced an experimental project in which regional renewable energy was used for air conditioning (AC) systems. The aim of this study was to clarify the trade-off relationship between the CO2 reductions and the energy costs of using regional renewable energy. A linear-optimization approach was used to estimate CO2 emissions and energy costs. Wood pellets produced from forest thinning within Kyoto City and solar heating were considered as regional renewable energy sources. The results showed that the CO2 reduction rate and energy cost reduction rate compared to the previous AC system, which was fuelled by urban gas, were 45.8-65.4% and 29.4-46.6%, respectively. In general, the renewable AC system showed both a reduction in CO2 and energy cost, even when accounting for this trade-off relationship.