Climate disaster response technologies will be applied to public buildings in earnest to cope with increasing heat waves and heavy rains.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced Monday that it will simultaneously support energy performance improvements and climate crisis adaptation for 318 aging public buildings through the "2026 Public Building Green Remodeling 2.0" project.
The key change in this year's project is the addition of climate crisis adaptation technologies on top of the existing focus on energy savings. To boost disaster response capacity, the project will install water barriers and flood sensors for heavy rain, wind-resistant glass for typhoons, heated pavement and snow guards for heavy snow, and rooftop greenery and shading structures for heat waves. Existing energy performance upgrades will also be carried out, including reinforced insulation, high-performance windows and doors, replacement of high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment, and the deployment of renewable energy facilities.
The scope of support has also been significantly expanded. The project has been broadened from the existing six uses (10 types), such as senior centers and libraries, to 28 types including welfare facilities, social welfare centers, vocational training centers, and family support centers, encompassing buildings closely tied to daily life. During the application period (April 7-24), a total of 535 buildings were submitted, and 318 were finally selected based on assessments of project feasibility, energy savings effects, and the application of climate adaptation technologies. Five signature projects incorporating advanced technologies and designs were also included.
"Libraries and exhibition halls newly refurbished through public green remodeling will serve as a catalyst for making green remodeling commonplace," said Jung Eui-kyung, head of MOLIT's National Land and Urban Affairs Office. "We expect it to contribute to the spread of green remodeling in the private sector and the revitalization of the regional green building industry."
