hankyoreh

President Moon Jae-in praised the development of the energy zero (EZ) apartment complex during an open house event in the Nowon District of Seoul on Dec. 7. Such complexes are envisioned to be a key component of South Korea’s transition away from nuclear power. “For this policy to succeed, we need to have more villages and apartments that are energy self-sufficient all over the country,” the president said. Construction of the complex began in 2013 and was completed at a cost of 49.3 billion won (US$45.4 million). Each household will able to save 970,000 won (US$882) in energy costs annually.

The renewable energy technologies such as solar panels and geothermal heat pumps can produce about 33% of the required energy to operate a household and are able to maintain a pleasant residential environment without fossil fuel. The complex is composed of 121 households, including 100 newly-married couples, 12 elderly households, with the remaining units being used as co-operative households and monitoring households. Monthly rents range from 140,000 won (US$128) to 210,000 won (US$193).