Using AI and IoT-based automatic control, the system reduces classroom energy consumption by 40%

Professor Youngtae Chae’s research team in the Department of Architectural Engineering at Gachon University, in collaboration with Seed & Co., Ltd., has developed an energy-saving system that can dramatically reduce energy consumption in university classrooms.

This research was conducted as part of the ‘2023 Industry-Academia-Research Collabo R&D Project’ led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. The project is titled “Development of IWMS & SaaS Solutions to Improve Building Energy and Space Management Services.” Gachon University is participating as a joint research and development institution, establishing a living lab in the College of Engineering classrooms to carry out pilot testing.

The research team installed remotely controllable heat pumps for heating and cooling and electronic lighting switches in aging classrooms, building a system that automatically controls energy use based on student occupancy using IoT sensors. The AI-based control program learns from academic schedules, classroom timetables, external weather forecasts, and students’ space usage patterns to pre-heat before use and automatically shut down after use, preventing unnecessary energy consumption.

As a result of the pilot, classrooms in the living lab saw over a 30% reduction in operating hours compared to regular classrooms with the same equipment, and energy consumption was cut by up to 40%.

Choi Hyun-woong, CEO of Seed& Co., said, “Due to the distributed energy systems in university buildings, efficient management has been difficult, but this system reduces energy waste by enabling centralized control and automation.”

Professor Chaeyoung Tae stated, “Classrooms account for over 60% of university facilities. This system combines AI and cloud-based control technology to not only reduce energy consumption but also contribute to creating a comfortable learning environment for students.”