Seoul has implemented various building energy efficiency programs inspired by global best practices. However, to achieve more ambitious carbon neutrality targets, the city must now consider stronger regulatory approaches and more sophisticated support mechanisms. Based on international case studies, Seoul should accelerate the adoption of mandatory energy performance standards and set annual carbon or energy use caps for large buildings. Similar to New York City's Local Law 97 and Tokyo’s ETS, Seoul is reviewing a phased implementation of enforceable emissions limits with penalties for noncompliance.
To support this, it is critical to expand and expedite the use of the city’s GHG information management system, starting with pilot programs for buildings over 3,000m². Public disclosure of target achievements and stepwise expansion of the scope can increase transparency and accountability. Market-based mechanisms such as carbon pricing and emissions trading should be introduced with transitional safeguards for essential facilities like hospitals and data centers. These facilities should receive prioritized financial assistance for energy efficiency retrofits.
Deep retrofitting of existing buildings must be systematized through legal mandates, especially during major renovations. Seoul should consider requiring energy audits every 5–10 years and mandating replacement of inefficient equipment. A dedicated retrofit fund, in cooperation with the financial sector, should support affordable long-term loans with repayment linked to energy cost savings. Public buildings must lead by example by achieving full decarbonization.
Additionally, Seoul must reduce its reliance on the national power grid. To do so, it should collaborate with the national government on electricity emissions accounting and renewable energy certification frameworks. The city should promote PPAs (power purchase agreements), green tariff programs, and virtual power plants (VPPs) linking local building owners with external renewable suppliers. Rooftop solar mandates for new buildings and incentives for solar retrofits are also essential.
Fundamentally, these actions require legal backing. Energy and emissions disclosure regulations must be upgraded to require building performance data (e.g., energy use, GHG emissions, water consumption) to be made public. Smart energy monitoring and big data analytics should be used to track real-time consumption, identify high-emitting buildings, and evaluate policy outcomes quantitatively. This digital infrastructure will support both distributed energy deployment and effective climate policy in Seoul.