Statistical analysis of greenhouse gas emissions of South Korean residential buildings

Abstract

This study analyzed the status of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of residential buildings in South Korea from 2015 to 2019, based on energy consumption data for all residential buildings in the country from the Korea National Building Energy Database. The analysis revealed that new residential buildings had a lower GHG emission intensity than old residential buildings and that strengthening the Building Energy Conservation Code (BECC) contributes to the reduction of GHG emissions from heating energy use in residential buildings. The GHG emission intensity for heating energy use of apartments to which the latest standard (0.21 W/m2·K U-value of exterior walls) was applied was 35.8% lower than that of apartments to which the insulation standard was not applied. However, despite the strengthening of the BECC, the GHG emission intensity for baseload and cooling energy use of apartments increased. This means that the BECC does not contribute to reducing GHG emissions from baseload and cooling energy use. Moreover, as the number of residential buildings continues to increase, their consolidated GHG emissions also increase. Since heating energy consumption is significantly influenced by the weather, GHG emissions from heating energy use can vary depending on the weather. For instance, GHG emissions from heating energy use can increase in extremely cold winter despite the strengthening of the BECC. Therefore, a policy is needed for strengthening the BECC as well as for enhancing building occupants' understanding of GHG emissions reduction in buildings and for promoting the occupants’ behavior change.