Study on the Certification Policy of Zero-Energy Buildings in Korea

Abstract

This study presents a methodology and process to establish a mandatory policy of zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) in Korea. To determine the mandatory level to acquire the rating of a ZEB in Korea, this study was conducted under the assumption that the criteria of ZEB was a top 5% building considering the building’s energy-efficiency rating, which was certified through a quantitative building energy analysis. A self-sufficiency rate was also proposed to strengthen the passive standard of the buildings as well as to encourage new and renewable energy production. Accordingly, zero-energy buildings (ZEBs) in Korea are defined as having 60 kWh/(m2·yr) of non-renewable primary energy (NRPE) consumption in residential buildings and 80 kWh/(m2·yr) in non-residential buildings, and the self-reliance rate should be more than 20% of the renewable energy consumption as compared to the total energy consumption of the buildings. In addition, the mandatory installation of building energy management systems (BEMS) was promoted to investigate the energy behavior in buildings to be certified as zero-energy in the future. This study also investigated the number of ZEB certificates during the demonstration period from 2017 to 2019 to analyze the energy demand, non-renewable primary energy, renewable primary energy, and self-sufficiency rate as compared to those under the previous standards. For ZEB Grade 1 as compared to the existing building energy-efficiency rating, the sum of the NRPE decreased more than 50%, and renewable energy consumption increased more than four times.

Prediction of the Energy Self-Sufficiency Rate of Major New Renewable Energy Types Based on Zero-Energy Building Certification Cases in South Korea

“…Such buildings aim to minimize energy consumption through passive technology elements related to the construction and active technology elements associated with systems and electricity, and maximize energy production through new renewable energy, increasing the ESR [22]. The concept of a zero-energy building is illustrated in Figure 2 [12,22].…”

“…Such buildings aim to minimize energy consumption through passive technology elements related to the construction and active technology elements associated with systems and electricity, and maximize energy production through new renewable energy, increasing the ESR [22]. The concept of a zero-energy building is illustrated in Figure 2 [12,22]. Korea has implemented ZEB certification since 2017 and, from 2020, public buildings with a total floor area of 1000 m 2 or more are legally mandated to acquire ZEB certification [12,13].…”

“…Korea has implemented ZEB certification since 2017 and, from 2020, public buildings with a total floor area of 1000 m 2 or more are legally mandated to acquire ZEB certification [12,13]. The scope for ZEB certification will be expanded to include private buildings and apartments from 2025, and all buildings with a total floor area of 500 m 2 or more will be included from 2030 [12,13]. The ZEB grade is categorized into a total of five grades based on the ESR; the criteria and certification status for each ZEB grade are outlined in Table 1 [23].…”

“…The ZEB grade is categorized into a total of five grades based on the ESR; the criteria and certification status for each ZEB grade are outlined in Table 1 [23]. Korea has implemented ZEB certification since 2017 and, from 2020, public buildings with a total floor area of 1000 m 2 or more are legally mandated to acquire ZEB certification [12,13]. The scope for ZEB certification will be expanded to include private buildings and apartments from 2025, and all buildings with a total floor area of 500 m 2 or more will be included from 2030 [12,13].…”

“…Accordingly, South Korea has mandated that starting in 2020, newly built public buildings with a minimum floor area of 1000 m 2 must obtain zero energy building certification (ZEB). To do this, the energy self-sufficiency rate (ESR), ratio of energy production to energy consumption, of a certain level or higher must be achieved [12,13].…”