An Analysis of the Effectiveness of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Policy for Office Building Design in South Korea

Abstract

This paper examines the effectiveness of South Korea’s policy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in office buildings and evaluates if national targets can be met. A sample of office buildings was categorized into two groups—conventional (Group A) and new (Group B)—based on when their construction was approved. Furthermore, data regarding the three design elements of the building envelope, that is building form, window systems, and U-values were collected. By statistically processing data of each element, reference building models were developed and a case study was conducted for each building. Design changes that were incorporated, keeping in mind the GHG reduction policy, showed 13.1% of saving energy in case 8 (reference building of Group B) than case 1 (reference building of Group A). The savings in case 8 were more than the average GHG reduction rate (12.8%) compared to business as usual (BAU). However, case 4 (a conventional (Group A) building form with new (Group B) window systems and U-values) achieved the greatest savings in building loads. The policy to enhance insulation in new buildings to reduce GHG emissions in the building sector has prompted changes in building forms and window systems and has reduced emissions by 10%, that is 3% more than the expected value. Thus, new innovations in building envelope design could achieve an average 12.8% reduction in emissions in buildings.

Potential measures towards the reduction of cooling loads of office buildings in Ghana

“…In this final scenario, the monthly electrical energy saving for airconditioning is approximately 5.1 kWhe/m 2 per unit envelope area, with an associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions up to 6.36 kg CO 2 eq/m 2 per unit envelope area, assuming continuous operation of the HVAC systems. Kwak et al (2019) also found that improvement options of envelope features of four buildings yielded a 72% and a 24% drop in annual cooling energy consumption, resulting in an average decrement of 62% in CO 2 emissions. The study then concluded that window space, window eaves, window characteristics, exterior wall insulation thickness, draft prevention, shading, landscaping features and control of solar energy, considerably reduce heating-cooling energy consumption, the amount and cost of natural gas, electricity, annual greenhouse gas emissions from heating and cooling energy.…”

“…Kwak et al (2019) also found that improvement options of envelope features of four buildings yielded a 72% and a 24% drop in annual cooling energy consumption, resulting in an average decrement of 62% in CO 2 emissions. The study then concluded that window space, window eaves, window characteristics, exterior wall insulation thickness, draft prevention, shading, landscaping features and control of solar energy, considerably reduce heating-cooling energy consumption, the amount and cost of natural gas, electricity, annual greenhouse gas emissions from heating and cooling energy.…”

Analysis on determinants of carbon emissions from plaza ground paving during the construction stage based on life cycle assessment

“…The greenhouse effect has become a widespread issue faced by the whole world and has a significant impact on human survival and progress 1 . “Carbon emissions” is an abbreviation for greenhouse gas emissions.…”

Development of Simplified Building Energy Prediction Model to Support Policymaking in South Korea—Case Study for Office Buildings

“…For example, flexible research and flexible modeling approaches were developed with a focus on nonresidential buildings, such as offices, sales, accommodation, educational, and cultural structures [17]. Moreover, the impact and effectiveness of building energy policies on GHGs were investigated with the developed reference building models targeting office buildings in South Korea [18]. A new type of reference building model was developed with the proposed methodology targeting religious buildings in the US [19].…”