Building Policies for Energy Efficiency and the Development of a Zero-Energy Building Envelopment System in Korea

In this paper, the status of South Korea's policy (i.e., major support measures and energy performance standards) for the achievement of zero-energy buildings was investigated. Development of a high-performance envelopment system and its performance were also analyzed. The South Korean government has been proclaiming and enacting standards and ordinances related to green buildings since 1999. In 2008, it announced more specific and detailed regulations based on the Framework Act on Green Growth, which presents annual greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and mandates the realization of zero-energy buildings by 2025. To meet these legal standards and achieve the country's energy-saving goals, the high-performance building envelop system was developed. The insulation performance of this system turned out to be equal or higher than the insulation performance standards for passive houses. It is expected that the use of the high-performance envelop system and renewable energy will contribute to realizing the nation's goal of mandatory application of zero-energy apartment houses.