The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) expanded the scale of its building retrofit project to a total of KRW 10 billion in effort to reach one million low-carbon buildings in Seoul.

The building retrofit project has received a total of 76 applications (approx. KRW 3.9 billion) so far, and it is expected to significantly improve energy efficiency by targeting energy performance improvement in buildings with high energy consumption and converting apartment buildings’ central heating system to district heating this year.

In particular, Yongsan Park Tower Apartments saw a drastic reduction in energy use by switching from a central heating system using city gas to a district heating system applying an energy management system. The city will provide KRW 740 million in interest-free loans for converting to a district heating system, which is expected to reduce energy consumption by 27% and energy costs by KRW 200 million per annum.

The city is also supporting the installation and replacement of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) fan/filtration systems, which are effective in increasing the energy efficiency of buildings and preventing the spread of infectious diseases in buildings via heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Since 2008, the city’s building retrofit project has been providing interest-free loans to improve buildings’ inefficient use of energy by converting facilities with high-efficiency replacements, such as insulated windows, insulation materials, boilers, lighting, and ventilation facilities.

Seoul will continue to discover various targets to improve the energy efficiency of old buildings as well as contribute to creating healthy residential environments while raising public awareness through promotional support.