Energy Saving and Reduced Private Car Use Earns 'Passenger Car Mileage'... Up to 10 Million Won for Groups

Winter Eco Mileage Group Members Awarded up to 10 Million KRW for Over 10% Savings
Individual Members Receive 10,000 Mileage for Over 20% Energy Savings During Fine Dust Seasonal Management Period
Seoul City Drivers Given 10,000 Passenger Car Mileage for Driving 50% or Less of Average Distance

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Amid global concerns over an energy crisis this winter, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will provide up to 20,000 mileage points to individuals and up to 10 million KRW to organizations based on participation scale and energy savings for members of the Eco Mileage and Passenger Car Mileage programs who conserve energy during the winter season.

According to Seoul City on the 15th, to reduce high concentrations of fine dust during winter, the city announced it will hold the '2023 Winter Eco Mileage Group Member Energy Saving Competition' during the fine dust seasonal management period, which runs annually from December to March of the following year.

This competition targets corporate, individual business, and group members located in Seoul. If energy consumption over the four-month period decreases by more than 10% compared to the same period in the previous two years, the city will comprehensively evaluate the degree of greenhouse gas reduction and outstanding implementation cases, awarding up to 10 million KRW depending on the scale of energy use. Awards will be given in August next year, divided by group member type and size, selecting one grand prize winner, two excellence awards, and approximately 3 to 25 encouragement awards based on energy usage scale.

Additionally, Seoul City will provide up to 20,000 KRW in Eco Mileage and Passenger Car Mileage 'Fine Dust Seasonal Management Special Points' per person based on reduction results during the fine dust seasonal management period. Eco Mileage members who reduce household energy such as electricity by 20% or more, and Passenger Car Mileage members who drive less than half (1,960 km) of the Seoul average driving distance will each receive mileage worth 10,000 KRW.

For the Eco Mileage special points, 10,000 mileage points will be awarded in August next year to representative members of households that reduce electricity, water, and city gas usage by 20% or more compared to the baseline. For the Passenger Car Mileage special points, 10,000 KRW mileage per vehicle will be given in May next year to members who drive 50% or less (1,960 km) of the Seoul average driving distance (3,920 km).

Meanwhile, since its launch in 2009, the 'Eco Mileage' building energy saving incentive program has seen participation from one in five Seoul citizens. Over the past 13 years, a cumulative total of 2.286 million members have reduced approximately 2.071 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), contributing to carbon neutrality. The 'Passenger Car Mileage' program has seen participation from one in thirteen vehicles in Seoul, with 201,000 cumulative members over the past five years reducing about 206,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

The amount of greenhouse gases reduced through Eco Mileage and Passenger Car Mileage is equivalent to creating a forest approximately 3.5 times the total area of Seoul (211,502.5 hectares) or planting 345 million 30-year-old pine trees, according to Seoul City.

Furthermore, out of the 63.9 billion KRW in Eco Mileage paid so far, 17.6 billion KRW (28%) remains unused. For Passenger Car Mileage, 10.3 billion KRW (83%) out of 12.4 billion KRW has been used, leaving 2.1 billion KRW (17%) unused. Accumulated mileage points can be used within their validity period by accessing the Eco and Passenger Car Mileage websites for local tax payments, cash conversion, donations, or purchasing mobile gift certificates.

Yoo Yeon-sik, Head of the Climate and Environment Headquarters, stated, “Reducing heating energy and vehicle operation during the winter season when high concentrations of fine dust are concentrated can also earn special points. We hope for active interest and participation from citizens this winter. Also, please reclaim any unused mileage points that are dormant.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.