Abstract
From the standpoint of creating a sustainable global environment, it is necessary to improve the building performance of school facilities. In this study, the actual conditions and problems of Eco-schools, which are specifically designed to optimize building performance considerations such as thermal insulation and sun protection, and which are funded by grants from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT), are investigated through a nationwide questionnaire survey. The survey clarified that the thermal performances of numerous Eco-schools fail to meet expectations. For example, 16% of the respondent schools do not have thermal insulation installed and the thermal insulation performances of those buildings are lower than the 1999 energy standard for residential houses excluding schools in Zone I. Additionally, it was found that Eco-schools tend to consume more energy than older schools. Therefore, achieving higher levels of building performance is considered necessary for Eco-schools.
