17 degree heating for public institutions – Except for the presidential office, the National Assembly and the court

◀ anchor ▶

A public organization’s energy diet which reduces energy consumption by 10% has started this week.

The heating temperature is set at an average of 17 degrees and unnecessary lights are turned off, but the National Assembly, the courts, and the offices of the president and prime minister are all exceptions.

Why are all these organizations missing?

Reporter Yoon-mi Kim covered the story.

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Bank of Korea Currency Museum in Jung-gu, Seoul.

At 11 pm, the lights are all turned off at once.

Gwanghwamun, Heunginjimun, and Geumgang Pedestrian Bridge in Sejong City, which were usually lit up all night, are also turning off the lights.

The purpose is to save energy.

Public institutions limit the heating temperature to an average of 17 degrees.

Personal heaters are not allowed, and 30% of room lights must be switched off.

Where this guideline must be followed is set out in the Energy Use Rationalization Act.

This includes not only central administrative agencies, local governments, education offices, public institutions, but also national and public universities, national public hospitals, and elementary and secondary schools.

But there are lost places.

The National Assembly, the Court, the Constitutional Court, and the Electoral Commission are missing.

This is because, according to the separation of powers, there is no administration.

The President’s Office and the Prime Minister’s Office are also missing.

It has been said that I have just been out of it since then.

[양이원영 의원/국회 산업통상자원중소벤처기업위 위원]

“Even the district offices, which are often used by citizens, are subject to mandatory duties, but it is not appropriate that constitutional institutions such as the National Assembly, the courts, and even the presidential office are not subject to duty, and a sense of privilege.”

Five years ago, a bill was presented to amend the law to include the National Assembly and the courts, but it did not even pass the Standing Committee of the National Assembly.

The Ministry of Industry said that the law would need to be amended to include the legislation and the judiciary, but the offices of the president and the prime minister are discussing changing the notification to include it.

Last year, the court and the National Assembly emitted 70,000 tonnes and 20,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases, respectively.

15 times or 4 times the average of other public institutions.

This is Kim Yun-mi from MBC News.

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