Taipei City Construction Management Office

Press Release from Taipei City Construction Management OfficePress Release Unit: Taipei City Construction Management OfficePress Release Date: 2014-9-17Contact: Assistant Chief Engineer, Chiu, Ying-CheTel.: 1999 ex. 8346Taipei City’s energy efficient feng shui master service corps grants help transform old buildings into green buildings.In 2007, the Taipei City Government set up the “energy efficient feng shui master service corps," diagnosing public building energy saving circumstances in succession, training energy saving seed personnel at each department and office. It was expected that the public sector would play an exemplary role so others could achieve models set forth in demonstrations and gradually extended this to public and private buildings throughout the entire city. From 2013 onwards, grants have been offered for four major items: improvement of building ecological protection, energy saving building, construction waste reduction, and building healthy indoor environments.Located in Wanhua District, Juguang New Town was a community where housing was more than 30 years in age. In addition to improving the energy-saving efficiency of electrical equipment, including lighting equipment, lift equipment, power motor equipment operating conditions on their own, in 2013 they applied at the Taipei City Construction Management Office for a green construction project improvement subsidy of NT$ 200000. They improved and completed a "breathing sidewalk" in 2014. After the completion of this 118-meter long, 1.5 meter wide sidewalk, one side is lined with a green facade wall. Just walking on this sidewalk gives people have a brand new experience. The original hot, stuffy sidewalk which was slippery on rainy days, was much improved. Not only did it make use of highly wear-resistant, non-slip, permeable and environmentally friendly materials, but water immediately permeates into the ground when it begins to rain heavily. This way, it not only encourages base water retention, but also slows the urban heat island effect. The Juguang New Town community, as a result of this breathing sidewalk improvement, will be able to retain 204.20 m3 of water per year. That is an annual volume of 7.27 tonnes of CO2 emission reduction. The effect is significant. Executive Secretary of the Juguang New Town community, Wang Shu-Yuan, said whether it was the city government or the community itself, they have jointly developed an infinitely ingenious and diverse variety of cost-saving measures so that "energy conservation, power saving, love for the earth," was no longer just a slogan, but was actualized in every corner of life.If citizens have any questions pertaining to application for grants to green building improvement project activities, they may inquire with organizer: Taiwan Architecture & Building Center commissioned by the Taipei City Construction Management Office (Service Line: Please call (02) 8667-6111 extension 120 Mr. Liao). They may also consult Executive Secretary of Juguang New Town community Wang Shu-Yuan (0917-507-718) to better understand the improvement process.