Revised Act: Top Runner & Ministerial Energy-Tech Certification, Apr 1, 2027
Overview
Regarding the Revised Building Energy Saving Act promulgated in July 2026, the Cabinet approved on September 11, 2026, a decree establishing the enforcement date and making the necessary related decree provisions. The Upper Housing Top Runner System and the ministerial certification system for evaluating leading energy-saving technologies will take effect on April 1, 2027, and designation criteria based on the annual number of homes supplied will also be established.
Key points
- The Cabinet approved the related decrees on September 11, 2026.
- The Upper Housing Top Runner System and the ministerial certification system for evaluating leading energy-saving technologies will take effect on April 1, 2027.
- The designation criteria are 2,000 homes or 15,000 homes annually, depending on the housing type.
- The decree is scheduled to be promulgated on September 16, 2026.
Overview
The revised Act promulgated in July 2026 promotes decarbonization throughout the entire building life cycle, from construction to demolition, in addition to improving energy-saving performance during the use phase of buildings. This measure sets the enforcement date for part of the revised Act and establishes the decrees necessary for its enforcement.
Impact
The revised Act will promote the supply of homes with higher energy-saving performance while advancing decarbonization throughout the entire life cycle of buildings.
Details
A system will be established to designate businesses with particularly high supply volumes as Upper Housing Top Runners and require them to submit medium- to long-term plans and report their progress annually. In addition, buildings certified by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will be added to the scope of certification for plans to improve building energy consumption performance by the competent administrative authorities. The decree sets the annual thresholds at 2,000 homes for parties responsible for building specially designated detached houses, parties responsible for building specially designated collective housing and other buildings, and contractors for specially designated detached-house construction work, and at 15,000 homes for contractors for specially designated collective-housing and other construction work.