Sustainable building practices: minimising the life-cycle environmental impact of high-rise apartments in Korea

Concern about the global environment has been increasing in recent years. Efforts to sustain the globe as well as human beings have increased, especially in the late twentieth century. Co-operation between industries is required, in order to limit our production and waste within global capacity. This current study researches one of the solutions which can contribute to sustaining the world environment. Although the issues are on a global scale, solutions are sought on a regional scale, in this case Korea. Assessment and proposals are made for high-rise apartments, one of the most popular construction types nowadays in Korea. Since the volume of high-rise apartment construction is so great, a small improvement in each building will make a great contribution to reducing environmental impact. Assessments are made over the life-span of apartment buildings by using a tool for Environmental Impact Assessment for High-rise Apartment (EIAHA), whose components include passive design strategies; construction and building materials; energy consumption during building operation; and management and maintenance. The assessment is applied to the current high-rise apartment development in Korea as well as in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Singapore. Through the comparison of the development in those countries, proposals for future Korean high-rise apartment development are suggested. Solutions for sustainable future development of Korean high-rise apartments are categorised into (i) energy saving strategies, which include energy use for construction and use of materials as well as energy in use, and (ii) strategies for a longer-life building. At the end of this study, as a conclusion, implications for planners, architects, legislators, managers and residents are outlined, in order to meet the targets established.