DOI: https://doi.org/10.61435/jbes.2026.20006

Assessing Energy Efficiency Potential and CO₂ Emission Reduction Through Energy Use Intensity and Vegetation-Based Carbon Balance in University Campuses

1Department of Biology, College of Science, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan, 900, Taiwan

2Environmental Science, FMIPA, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, 50229, Indonesia

3Environmental Science Study Program, FMIPA, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia

Received: 19 Jan 2026; Revised: 29 Jan 2026; Accepted: 6 Feb 2026; Available online: 11 Feb 2026; Published: 1 Aug 2026.
Editor(s): H. Hadiyanto
Open Access Copyright (c) 2026 The Author(s). Published by Centre of Biomass and Renewable Energy (CBIORE)
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Abstract
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from anthropogenic activities are causing an increase in global average temperatures and climate change. Buildings and construction contribute significantly to global climate change, accounting for about 21 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, including the higher education sector. Therefore, universities play a role in achieving the Net Zero Emission 2060 target to reduce carbon emissions on campus so that it requires energy efficiency efforts on energy consumption and the provision of green land in carbon sequestration. This study aims to analyze (1) energy consumption and Energy Use Intensity (EUI) with various scenarios, (2) carbon footprint with various scenarios, (3) the value of carbon sequestration by trees and carbon balance with various scenarios. It was found that the laboratory building produced the highest electrical energy consumption with an average of 6,916.94 kWh/month. The highest EUI was obtained by laboratory building D12 and has efficient criteria, which is 10.08 kWh/m2/month. The energy-saving scenario shows that all buildings have very efficient criteria. The carbon footprint in existing conditions, wasteful and efficient scenarios respectively amounted to 52,680 kgCO2eq and has the potential to increase to 71,269.76 kgCO2eq and decrease to 39,715.93 kgCO2eq. Vegetation in the form of existing trees in the area has an absorption capacity of 1,067,414.24 kgCO2eq so that trees are able to absorb all CO2 emissions produced so that the carbon balance produces a negative value.
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Keywords: Carbon Balance; CO2 Emission; Carbon Sequestration; EUI

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Section: Research Articles
Language : EN
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