Seodaemun-gu, Relaxation of Floor Limits for Urban-Type Residential Housing and Promotion of Green Buildings

Seoul City Presents Energy Reduction Conditions Stricter Than Building Energy Performance Design Standards

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seodaemun-gu District Office (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) is promoting the creation of green buildings in connection with the relaxation of the number of floors for urban-type residential housing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.

Buildings consume a large amount of energy for heating and cooling, elevator operation, ventilation, etc., emitting 68.8% of Seoul's total greenhouse gases (based on 2019 Seoul Metropolitan Government data).

Urban-type residential housing (complex-style row houses, complex-style multi-family houses) can be built up to 4 floors for residential use, but this can be expanded up to 5 floors through review by the architectural committee.

The district prioritizes ‘housing reflecting green building design’ for such relaxation targets. However, it presents energy reduction conditions that are stricter than the ‘Seoul Building Energy Performance Design Standards’.

In the ‘architecture sector,’ the insulation material performance is strengthened by raising the Seoul green building performance index by one level (from 0.8 or higher to 0.9 or higher), and the window airtightness grade and ventilation volume are increased (from 0.9 or higher to 1.0 or higher). Improving building insulation performance reduces energy consumption, thereby cutting greenhouse gas emissions and lowering residents’ electricity bills.

In the ‘mechanical and electrical sector,’ heating and cooling equipment with energy consumption efficiency grade 1 must be used, and LED lighting devices certified as high-efficiency energy equipment must be installed.

In the ‘eco-friendly sector,’ to promote renewable energy such as solar power, a 3 kW scale solar power generation facility must be installed using common areas such as apartment rooftops or parking lots. The electricity produced is used for common facilities, leading to reduced management costs.

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu, said, “To realize a sustainable eco-friendly city, we will actively promote Green New Deal policies in various fields such as creating energy low-consumption green buildings.”