Seoul City Takes Fundamental Steps to Solve Heating Cost Issues

120 Billion Won Invested This Year to Improve Building Energy Efficiency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 5th that it is promoting the ‘Building Energy Efficiency (BRP)’ project, which provides interest-free loans covering 100% of construction costs if energy consumption reduction works such as replacing insulation windows and insulation materials, and installing LED lighting are carried out on old buildings that have been in use for more than 10 years after approval.

This year, the support scale is 12 billion KRW, with buildings eligible for loans up to 2 billion KRW and houses up to 60 million KRW. The loan principal must be repaid in equal installments within 8 years.

First, energy efficiency improvements will be focused on public daycare centers and senior centers so that vulnerable groups to climate change, such as the elderly and children, can use them safely and comfortably during heatwaves and cold waves. Last year, the energy performance of 94 senior centers and daycare centers was improved by more than 30%.

In addition, eco-friendly boilers emit about one-eighth the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) compared to general old boilers, but have higher thermal efficiency, reducing gas consumption. It was found that the annual fuel cost per unit can be saved by up to 440,000 KRW (based on city gas rates as of January this year).

Also, Seoul plans to announce and implement next month the ‘Safe Home Repair Project,’ which supports energy efficiency improvements such as insulation and window replacement for semi-basement houses and vulnerable residential households.

Seoul stated, “To reduce the burden on citizens caused by soaring heating costs, we are actively expanding and strengthening building energy performance improvements, eco-friendly boiler distribution, and home repair support projects. In particular, we will continue to promote various support measures with significant energy efficiency improvement effects, starting with facilities used by groups vulnerable to the climate crisis.”