Eco-friendly, high-efficiency technology on display

An aerial view of Sanul Maeul Complex 4 in Sejong. [Korea Land and Housing Corporation]
An aerial view of Sanul Maeul Complex 4 in Sejong. [Korea Land and Housing Corporation]

The Korea Land and Housing Corporation announced Tuesday that Sanul Maeul Complex 4, located in the M1 block of the 6-3 residential zone in Sejong, has won the Asia region award for new residential buildings at the 2026 ASHRAE Region XIII Technology Awards. The complex was recognized for its outstanding energy performance through the use of geothermal energy in a multi-unit residential building.

ASHRAE is a global academic society with more than 50,000 members across over 130 countries. It presents awards based on a comprehensive evaluation of building systems — including heating, cooling and ventilation — across criteria such as efficiency, maintainability, cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability.

The winning complex is a 238-unit public rental housing development that achieved a Zero Energy Building Grade 3 certification by incorporating a 505-kilowatt geothermal heat pump, a 234-kilowatt solar power generation system and high-efficiency ventilation equipment.

A Zero Energy Building Grade 3 designation corresponds to an energy self-sufficiency rate of 79.83 percent — meaning nearly four-fifths of the complex's annual energy needs are met by on-site renewable energy sources.

The complex uses geothermal energy for both heating and cooling, with systematic management covering the entire process from design through construction and operation. The geothermal heat pump produces roughly 4.5 times the heating and cooling energy relative to the electricity it consumes, demonstrating strong energy performance in actual operation.

"We will continue to develop sustainable residential models that allow people to feel the benefits of energy savings in their daily lives," a Korea Land and Housing Corporation official said.


hss@heraldcorp.com