Himpel Co., Ltd. (CEO Kim Jung-hwan), a company specializing in indoor air quality, built Korea's first zero-energy new headquarters on Annyeongnam-ro in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and held a completion ceremony on December 6. The ceremony was attended by some 300 people, including officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the City of Hwaseong, public agencies, and industry figures, who came to celebrate the completion of the new headquarters. In his commemorative address, Himpel CEO Kim Jung-hwan explained, “As disasters caused by climate change grow more severe, the need to expand and disseminate zero-energy buildings—which secure energy self-sufficiency through the use of renewable energy while reducing fossil-fuel consumption—is being emphasized,” adding, “Himpel, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, built its Factory No. 3 as Korea's first zero-energy factory in order to put into practice its corporate motto: ‘We contribute to human health through air and energy technology.’” Himpel's Factory No. 3 is regarded as Korea's first exemplary case demonstrating that even an energy-intensive factory can be converted into a zero-energy building—embodying a vision for the future value of 21st-century enterprises in an era beset by fine dust and global warming.
Himpel's zero-energy factory has a total floor area of 4,552.47㎡ and consists of one basement level and four above-ground floors. The basement level and the first floor are used as the factory, the second floor serves as an exhibition hall, and the third and fourth floors are operated as offices. The façade design of the zero-energy factory embodies the company's commitment: Himpel's heat-recovery ventilators, powered by clean energy sources, not only provide fresh air inside the building to contribute to human health, but also position the company as a leader in greenhouse gas reduction, contributing to a sustainable urban environment.
A total of 53% energy savings through passive design such as insulation and heat-recovery ventilators
Himpel's zero-energy factory achieved an 8% reduction in energy consumption compared to the previous level through enhanced insulation alone, and a 35% reduction by applying passive design element technologies—including airtightness and thermal-bridge measures—as well as heat-recovery ventilators. By additionally installing solar photovoltaic panels, it achieved a total reduction of 53%, attaining a Building Energy Efficiency Rating of 1++ and an energy self-sufficiency rate of 28.25%. Aiming to create Korea's first Zero Energy Factory, this project obtained a Building Energy Efficiency Rating of 1++ and a preliminary certification of Zero Energy Building Grade 5, with the full certification scheduled to be obtained in January 2020. The total construction cost was approximately 5.2 billion won, of which about 700 million won (a 15% increase) was added to upgrade the building from an ordinary factory level (Grade 1) to a zero-energy factory level (1++ & Grade 5). Of that amount, about 76.7 million won was funded by the Korea Energy Agency and Gyeonggi Province, so the actual additional private burden was about 13.7% relative to the base construction cost of 4.5 billion won (excluding government support of 1.3%).
To achieve its goal as a zero-energy factory, Himpel's zero-energy factory applied technical elements different from the design of an ordinary factory building. Unlike an ordinary factory, the zero-energy factory applied passive design element technologies such as insulation and airtightness of the building envelope in order to reduce the heating and cooling loads consumed by the factory, and it installed heat-recovery ventilators—high-efficiency heat-recovery ventilation units—to save energy through heat recovery as well as to improve indoor air quality.
Specifically, these measures include: △Reinforced floor insulation—reducing conductive heat loss by reinforcing insulation at the factory foundation; △Reinforced wall insulation—reducing conductive heat loss by replacing the factory's existing 80㎜ PF board with 160㎜ board to reinforce insulation; △Reinforced roof insulation—reducing conductive heat loss by replacing the PF board on the factory roof from the existing 140㎜ to 200㎜ to reinforce insulation; △Airtightness performance—installing airtight materials at material joints and openings; △Heat-recovery ventilation units—mechanical ventilation devices that supply the required ventilation volume within the building while recovering heat from exhaust air to minimize ventilation heat loss; △Window replacement—replacing existing double-pane glass with 42㎜ triple Low-E glazing to reduce heat loss through windows and block ultraviolet rays. In particular, heat-recovery ventilation units are facilities not installed in ordinary factories, and a total of 12 units are installed in Himpel's zero-energy factory.
Solar power facilities are installed and in operation on the rooftop and walls of Himpel's zero-energy factory. The electricity generated is used for the factory's heating, cooling, hot water supply, ventilation, and lighting, or for operating equipment inside the factory. In addition, the facility is designed so that, through an ‘electronic remote metering system,’ consumption can be measured by energy source, and renewable solar energy production efficiency, active-technology EH (heating and cooling), the operating efficiency of LED lighting facilities, transport equipment, and more can be analyzed by use and by floor.
‘We contribute to human health through air and energy technology’
Himpel has strengthened its business division for ventilation systems (heat-recovery ventilators) that ventilate entire indoor spaces—along with exhaust fans installed in home bathrooms—and has shifted its business focus to become a company specializing in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). As the frequent occurrence of fine dust increases the need for ventilation systems that can improve indoor air quality in homes as well as in schools and daycare centers, the company's strategy is to lead the relevant market on the basis of competitiveness that stays a step ahead in both performance and design. Since starting its business as Jindo Precision Chemical in 1989, Himpel has been a total ventilation company developing and applying ventilation systems that can simultaneously ventilate bathrooms and indoor spaces, and it is actively conducting promotion and research and development to improve air quality.
The ventilation products Himpel manufactures and supplies are characterized by maximizing energy savings and noise reduction based on differentiation from existing products. The exhaust fans Himpel manufactures are recognized for their technological prowess and quality excellence through certifications such as constant-airflow certification and high-efficiency equipment certification. Its flagship product, the constant-airflow bathroom exhaust fan ‘Zerok’ (FZD-C90) equipped with a high-efficiency BLDC motor, can reduce power consumption by 70–80%. By discharging polluted air outdoors at a constant pressure, it has also obtained constant-airflow bathroom ventilation fan certification. 031-226-3355
Reporter Lee Seok-hyun