Small-scale Buildings Can Also Apply for 'Zero Energy Building' Certification

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] In the future, small-scale buildings will also be able to apply for Zero Energy Building (ZEB) certification.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 26th that it will revise the "Regulations on Building Energy Efficiency Grade Certification and Zero Energy Building Certification" with this content to respond to the increasing demand for ZEB certification, and will announce the legislative notice starting from the 29th.

Small-scale buildings refer to buildings with cooling and heating areas of less than 500㎡, excluding residential and office facilities. ZEB is a green building that minimizes the energy load required for the building and minimizes energy consumption by utilizing new and renewable energy.

The number of ZEB main certifications has been steadily increasing with 4 cases in 2018, 6 cases in 2019, and 14 cases last year. However, small-scale buildings have been unable to receive certification due to restrictions on applicable targets, which has been criticized as unreasonable.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport deleted the certification restrictions based on building size through the revision so that small-scale buildings wishing to obtain ZEB and building energy efficiency grade certification can voluntarily receive certification.

Also, considering that the number of certifications may greatly increase in the future, and that currently there is only one certification agency, the Korea Energy Agency, the requirement to submit documents such as 'research achievements,' which act as entry barriers when applying for new certification agencies, has been removed. Along with this, the scope of work has been expanded so that the certification system operating agencies can perform some certification tasks approved by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Um Jeonghee, Director of Building Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "With the resolution of difficulties related to the certification system, zero energy buildings are expected to be actively promoted," and added, "It is expected to contribute to reducing building energy consumption and carbon emissions." The revision can be checked on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport website, and if there are any opinions, they can be submitted by mail, fax, or through the website from the 29th to June 8th.