Energy Performance Evaluation and Certification Enhancement of Zero Energy Buildings in Educational Research Facilities

In 2025, the mandatory certification requirement for Zero Energy Buildings (ZEBs) was raised to Level 4 for certain public buildings. At the same time, a new top-tier certification, Zero Energy Building Plus, was introduced to promote greater energy self-sufficiency. This study evaluates the energy performance of officially certified educational and research facilities, with particular attention to the installation status of renewable energy systems. The analysis considered certification level, total floor area, and geographical region. Nine representative buildings were also selected and divided into three groups according to primary energy demand. To explore the feasibility of higher certification levels, the study examined rooftop area available for photovoltaic (PV) installations, estimated PV capacity, primary energy demand, energy self-sufficiency rate, and cost-effectiveness. The findings show that buildings in Group 3, which have the lowest primary energy demand, demonstrate greater potential for achieving advanced certification levels than those in Groups 1 and 2. These results emphasize the value of incorporating renewable energy systems early in the design process and prioritizing low-energy-demand strategies to meet stricter ZEB certification criteria.