Popularity of green, energy-efficient homes grows in Korea

aegu "Energy Zero" House

Daegu Energy-Zero House (Photo: Yonhap News)

Korea is no stranger to efforts to save energy and reduce Co2 emissions. One of many efforts to green Korea’s energy use has been to develop high-tech, environment-friendly homes which not only save energy, but also cut costs in the long run. Premier among these new building styles is the “energy zero” house.

An energy-saving green home was established in early September this year in Daegu, and is the first of its kind to be built not as a model home but as an actual residence. This collaborative effort by the Korea Institute of Construction Technology (KICT) and Hanbo Engineering Co. measures 228 square meters and cost 300 million won, only slightly more than a conventional building.

Instead of concrete and bricks, Hanbo Engineering used high insulation panels (HIP) to construct the floor, roof, and walls. Energy efficiency was also raised by the use of air-tight windows and doors, natural ventilation, and a landscaped rooftop.

Most of everyday energy needs will be met by a photovoltaic power generator on the roof, which is expected to generate about 500 to 700 kWh per month. The house also has a geothermal energy system that utilizes an underground heat pump. The thermal energy drawn from this pump will be used to both heat and cool the residence.

“The house can function on only 10 percent of the energy used by average house,” explained Dr. Cho Dong-woo of KICT. “With the expenses for heating and cooling included, we expect energy to cost around 200,000 won per year.” The new green home will be monitored for the next two years. If the results are positive, the house may become the new standard for buildings the future. 

Government policies and model houses 

Green Tomorrow House (Samsung C&T Corp.)

The Korean government is at the forefront of green home construction, and the Presidential Committee of Green Growth has already decreed all new houses must be built for zero carbon emissions by 2025. Additionally, households must reduce their annual energy usage by 30 percent by 2012 and 60 percent by 2017. The hope is that new buildings will be some form of “Passive House” with the ability to maintain a constant indoor temperature around 20 degrees with low energy use.

Non-residential buildings will be required to reduce their energy use by 15 percent by 2012, 30 percent by 2017, and 60 percent by 2020. Standards for insulation on windows and doors will be strengthened by 2012.

The government has also taken steps to convert an existing 1 million homes into “green homes” by 2018 through renovation subsidies for rental spaces. Further subsidies will be considered for remodeling apartments and other multi-family dwellings. By 2018, at least 1 million out of 1.5 million homes will be built using “green” methods.

In line with the government policy, many domestic construction companies have begun presenting model houses themed on zero-energy.

In November 2009, Samsung C&T Corp. opened an energy-zero building, “Green Tomorrow” in the city of Yongin, Gyeonggi-do. Sixty-eight different kinds of cutting edge green technology were applied, including 34 zero-energy technologies such as natural lighting, solar panels, and wind power, 18 green technologies such as waste material reduction and environment-friendly materials, and 16 kinds of green IT, such as RFID and smart grids.

Designed to absorb light and surrounded by top quality insulation, the Yongin construction managed to reduce its energy use by 56 percent, compared to the average household. Forty-four percent of its energy was self-produced. Samsung plans to apply the methods used for Green Tomorrow in all its existing Remian Apartment complexes from 2013.

Zener Heim House (Daewoo E& C Corp.)

Daewoo Engineering & Construction presented their “Zener Heim,” which requires almost no outside energy for creating electricity, heating and ventilation. As the only presentation to provide a real walk through experience, rather than computer simulations, the house garnered a great deal of media attention.

GS Engineering and Construction (GS E&C), too opened a promotional booth for its “Green Smart Xi” in the Mapo district in Seoul. Green Smart Xiis an energy-saving green home that is currently under development at the company research center to be an “energy zero” house, using solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources.

Daelim Industrial Co. presented of its proposal for a 2012 establishment of a “Eco 3-liter House,” which minimizes energy for heating and cooling. The plan is to develop an eco-efficient technology that requires only three liters of fuel per square meter for heating and cooling per year. 

source:Korea.net