• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.132-140
• /
• 2012

Along with the increasing interest in environmental problems such as global warming, the South Korean government has established policies and regulations to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases, targeting a 30% reduction of $CO_2$ compared to business-as-usual levels by 2020. Thus, there have been many studies in construction field to control and reduce the amount of $CO_2$ emitted from buildings. $CO_2$ emission from the building construction could be obtained by using the life cycle assessment(LCA) methodology. In LCA, it is essential to have life cycle inventory(LCI) data of construction materials consisting of $CO_2$ emission data that have been defined and examined in a detailed way in order to obtain more accurate and detailed $CO_2$ emission of buildings. To date, however, the LCI data have been acquired only for the representative materials. Accordingly this study aimed to propose detailed $CO_2$ emission data for steel rebar and H-beam, which are the essential structural steel materials, by strength and type. To accomplish the objective, this study used Input-Output LCA methodology which is based on the Input-Output table. It is believed that the $CO_2$ emission data of steel materials acquired from this study would allow a more accurate assessment of $CO_2$ emission for diverse structural design alternatives.

• The Journal of The Korea Institute of Intelligent Transport Systems
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.115-131
• /
• 2022

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from the transportation sector in South Korea accounts for 16.5% of all CO₂ emissions, and road transportation accounts for 96.5% of this sector's emissions in South Korea. Hence, constant research is being carried out on methods to reduce CO₂ emissions from this sector. With the emerging use of smart crossings, attempts to monitor individual vehicles are increasing. Moreover, the potential commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles increases the possibility of obtaining individual vehicle data. As such, CO₂ emission research was conducted at five signalized intersections in the Gangnam District, Seoul, using data such as vehicle type, speed, acceleration, etc., obtained from image detectors located at each intersection. The collected data were then applied to the MOtor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES)-Matrix model-which was developed to obtain second-by-second vehicle activity data and analyze daily CO₂ emissions from the studied intersections. After analyzing two large and three small intersections, the results indicated that 3.1 metric tons of CO₂ were emitted per day at each intersection. This study reveals a new possibility of analyzing CO₂ emissions using actual individual vehicle data using an improved analysis model. This study also emphasizes the importance of more accurate CO₂ emission analyses.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.33 no.12
• /
• pp.874-885
• /
• 2011

In this study, the urban $CO_2$ emission based on energy consumption (Coal, Petroleum, Electricity, and City Gas) in 16 provincial and metropolitan city governments in South Korea was evaluated. For calculation of the urban $CO_2$ emission, direct and indirect emissions were considered. Direct emissions refer to generation of greenhouse gas (GHG) on-site from the energy consumption. Indirect emissions refer to the use of resources or goods that discharge GHG emissions during energy production. The total GHG emission was 497,083 thousand ton $CO_2eq.$ in 2007. In the indirect GHG emission, about 240,388 thousand ton $CO_2eq.$ was occurred, as 48% of total GHG emission. About 256,694 thousand ton $CO_2eq.$ (52% of total GHG emissions) was produced in the direct GHG emission. This amount shows 13% difference with 439,698 thousand ton $CO_2eq.$ which is total national GHG emission data using current calculation method. Local metropolitan governments have to try to get accuracy and reliability for quantifying their GHG emission. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and use Korean emission factors than using the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) emission factors. The method considering indirect and direct GHG emission, which is suggested in this study, should be considered and compared with previous studies.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.615-627
• /
• 2011

There have been few researches on the connection technology for steel structures, so the research outputs and the outcome of the technology development are still insufficient. The bracket-type connection should be improved for efficient constructability and $CO_2$ reduction. It should be replaced by a new type of weak-axis connection that has better structural performance and less $CO_2$ emission. Since the structural performance and safety of the new type of weak-axis connection must first be verified, however, a study on $CO_2$ reduction will be conducted. Therefore, this study looked into the structural performance of the bracket-type details, standard details, and ultra-simple details. It evaluated the requirements for connection materials and $CO_2$ emission. It was found that the ultra-simple weak-axis connection has thebest structural performance and the least $CO_2$ emissions, so it is deemed capable of replacing the bracket-type weak-axis connection.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.61 no.2
• /
• pp.258-264
• /
• 2023

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emission assessment of kenaf pellet, produced from locally generated kenaf residues in South Korea, has been studied based on the EU RED-II methodology for calculating GHG impact of biomass fuels. Based on the production pathway of kenaf residue pellet and emission coefficients from EU JRC report, the life cycle GHG emission of kenaf residue pellet is assessed as 3.0 gCO₂eq/MJ_pellet and the life cycle GHG emission of electricity generated from kenaf residue pellet is assessed as 11.9 gCO₂eq/MJ when electrical efficiency of final conversion is 25%. The potential GHG emission reduction of electricity produced from kenaf pellet is 90.3% compared to the domestic electricity emission factor 42.8 kgCO₂eq/MWh. Also, the electricity produced from kenaf pellet can reduce at least 59.6% of GHG emission compared to the electricity produced from imported wood pellets.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.429-436
• /
• 2016

In this study, the genetic algorithm based optimal structural design method is proposed. The objective functions are to minimize the cost and $CO_2$ emissions, simultaneously. The cost and $CO_2$ emissions are calculated based on the cross-sectional dimensions, length, material strength, and reinforcement ratio of beam and column members. Thus, the cost and $CO_2$ emissions are evaluated by using the amounts of concrete and reinforcement used to construct a building. In this study, the cost and $CO_2$ emissions calculated at the phases of material transportation, construction, and building operation are excluded. The constraint conditions on the strength of beam and column members and the inter-story drift ratio are considered. The linear static analysis by using OpenSees is automatically conducted in the proposed method. The genetic algorithm is employed to solve the formulated problem. The proposed method is validated by applying it to the 4-story reinforced concrete moment frame example.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.217-238
• /
• 2023

Currently, automobile tax in Korea is imposed by multiplying the vehicle's engine displacement by a certain tax rate. However, the need for revision is being raised as it is pointed out that the current system does not reflect the immediate task of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Accordingly, this study focuses on the positive relationship between engine displacement and CO₂ emissions, and seeks to calculate an appropriate automobile tax rate considering average CO₂ emissions. To this end, first, we estimated the average annual CO₂ emissions (kg/vehicle) for each engine displacement using the average CO₂ emissions for each vehicle displacement as of 2020. Next, multiple scenarios were analyzed considering the standard tax rate at $75 per ton of CO₂ emissions proposed by the IMF (2019). In particular, we compared the case of imposing a uniform carbon tax of $75 and the case of imposing a progressive tax based on CO₂ emissions by displacement. According to the results, it was confirmed that the uniform tax rate proposed by the IMF is difficult to apply to Korea as it is due to the impact of a decrease in tax revenue, and a tax scheme needs to be designed appropriately considering maintenance of tax revenue according to the current automobile tax, greenhouse gas reduction effect, and automobile tax reform trends in developed countries. For example, in the case of the K3 (1,598cc) of Kia Motors, a representative compact car sold in Korea, if we compare the tax burdens for each tax scenario, the tax burden will be about 220,000 KRW under the current system, about 79,000 KRW under the uniform tax rate, about 83,000 KRW under the progressive tax rate, and about 240,000 KRW under the progressive tax rate similar to the UK tax system, respectively. In this way, this study identified the current statuses of automobile registration and tax in Korea, and automobile tax reform trends in major developed countries, and analyzed the impact of automobile tax reform considering engine displacement and CO₂ emissions, focusing on the tax burden of the people.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.37-51
• /
• 2020

Following the Paris Agreement adopted at the end of 2015, global stock-taking has been planned to be carried out on a 5-year basis from 2023, and it is mandatory to report on national GHG inventory and progress toward achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets. To prepare for this, it is important to improve the reliability of estimation of the greenhouse gas emission, identify the characteristics of each greenhouse gas emission source, and manage the amount of emissions. As such, this study compared and analyzed the amount of emissions from the landfill sector using the 2000 GPG, the 2006 IPCC Guidelines, and the 2019 Refinement estimation method. As a result, in comparison to 2016, there were 2,287 Gg CO₂_eq. in scenario 1, 1,870 Gg CO₂_eq. in scenario 2-1, 10,886 Gg CO₂_eq. in scenario 2-2, 10,629 Gg CO₂_eq. in scenario 2-3, and 12,468 Gg CO₂_eq. in scenario 3. Thus, when the 2006 IPCC Guidelines were applied with respect to 2000 GPG, it was revealed that greenhouse gas emissions have increased. Such difference in the emission changes was due to the changes in the calculation method and the emission factor values applied. Therefore, it is urgent to develop national-specific values of the emission factor based on characteristics of greenhouse gas emission in Korea.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.131-139
• /
• 2022

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a landfill project to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) from La Chureca Landfill in Managua, Nicaragua ("Project"). The feasibility study involved surveying the status and composition of waste on its way in to the landfill and projecting GHG emissions from the landfill. A projection of the GHG emissions with the IPCC model based on the survey results indicated the period 2006 to 2043 would see mean yearly GHG emissions of 290,147 ton-CO₂/year with model certainty not considered, and 217,610 ton-CO₂/year with model certainty considered. Thus, the result exceeded the corresponding median and mean values of other CDM projects implemented in Central America, even after model uncertainty was considered together with the conservative estimation of carbon capture efficiency. The similar result was produced even with an analysis of sensitivity to error factors. All the findings of the study are expected to be applicable as basic data for deciding about whether & how to proceed with the Project.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.99 no.4
• /
• pp.597-602
• /
• 2010

The most basic matter to establish forest carbon circulation village is statistic on greenhouse gas emissions. But currently, although there is statistic on greenhouse gas emissions in the level of city or province, there is not statistic on greenhouse gas emission in village unit. According to the results, The model area is located in Seobyeok-ri, Chunyang-myeon, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, the total $CO_2$emissions caused by energy used in the model area was $1,755tCO_2$. Heating accounts for 55% of total emissions followed by 23% for power and 22% for vehicles. The model area emitted $572tCO_2$ due to rice growing and livestock raising, accounting for approximately 24.5% of total $CO_2$ emissions. It is expected that a reduction of as much as $884tCO_2$ emissions will be made from the current $964tCO_2$ to a level of 1/12th that amount, or $80tCO_2$ by replacing heating energy currently used in the model area with wood bioenergy such as wood chips or pellets. In addition, carbon emission reduction is expected for both heating and power by replacing the power consumption in houses, buildings, and street lights with solar power.