Seoul City government had launched very active LED universal policies. From 2007 to 2009, 23 billion won has been put into this area, replacing 156,000 transportation lighting applications and 38,000 building lighting applications with LED lamps, consequently saving electricity of 42,400 MWh (1.6 billion won).
In 2012, on the basis of these policies, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a number of additional measures to speed up the process of 100% LED city lighting penetration. The local government announced in June of 2012, public institutions should be responsible for introducing LED lamps in new buildings and facilities. By the end of June of 2012, the utilization rate of LED lamps in public institutions reached 10%. It is reported that this plan will be further expanded in the future, aiming at a 50% LED lighting utilization rate in public building by 2014, and 100% in 2018. It is estimated that, at such speed, the 100% LED city lighting penetration can be realized by 2030.
Before 2014, there are 7.8 million lamps need to be replaced, while the forbidden of incandescent lamps will speed up this process, 50% of public institution lighting, 25% of civil lighting. According to the local government’s projections, if it is realized in the future, they would save approximate 1100GWh per year, reducing 120 billion won electricity cost annually.
Public institutions include: Seoul Metropolitan Government Building, 25 Districts, 17 offices, 218 subway station facilities, 20 underground shopping streets, ranged widely. All lamps used in these places will be replaced by LED lighting products. This plan has been steadily implemented.
In addition, Seoul City local government intended to cooperate with KLEDA to promote led tunnel light technology in underground parking lots. Seoul City government and KLEDA released in May of 2012 “the popularization plan of LED city lighting business in apartment underground parking areas and large-scale commercial facilities underground parking areas”. This support policy was put into force since June this year. In fact, before this, a similar policy has executed in Gyeonggi and Daegu City in February 2011, Seoul is the expansion of this plan.
Under the encourage of government’s support policies, underground parking lots of apartments and large-scale commercial facilities in Seoul can import LED lights for free. Although individual introductions are not included into the “free” range, buyers still can enjoyed a 40% discount in the form of government subsidies.