the actions of sustainable building and environment...

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The Actions of Sustainable Building and Environment Forming in

Kaohsiung

Speakers:

Hsieh, Chih-Chang1; Li, Yen-Yi

2; Huang, Chin-Ming

3; Tzeng, Pin-Chieh

4; Chou, I-Shin

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1 Kaohsiung City Government, Kaohsiung, TAIWAN

2 GAID, ShuTe University, Kaohsiung, TAIWAN




Abstract: Formerly a heavy industrial sector, Kaohsiung City has long been responsible for Taiwan’s

economic development. Consequently, air pollution has become a substantial problem for people

residing in the city. International statistics indicate that the annual CO2 emission in Kaohsiung City

has reached up to 9,613 metric tons, which is higher than the average CO2 emission per person in

other major cities around the world. Therefore, the City government starts to promote the

transformation of cities with high carbon emissions and prevent carbon emissions from increasing

situations, so that industrial sectors have comprehensively enacted energy savings and carbon

reduction policies. The promotion of the action plan for Kaohsiung building environment

transformation is based on the planning of the residential and commercial sector. A periodical

approach was used for plan promotion according to various topographical and cultural environments,

stressing local culture, green buildings, and citizen participation. Relevant laws were established to

ensure the practical implementation of the transformation plan. The action plans include seven sub-

plans, which are “City as Green Roof Gardens”, “City as Solar Power Stations”, “City as Green and

Cooling Corridors”, “Kaohsiung LOHAS Buildings”, “Constructions in Green Buildings”,

“Professional Healthy Building Doctor System”, and “International Collaboration in Sustainable

Development” Strategies are proposed to resolve current problems related to illegal constructions,

metal huts, and disorderly urban environments. Green building environments are established by

integrating the urban climate conditions of Kaohsiung City and corresponding to Kaohsiung’s

building environment issues, thereby creating water and electricity saving, healthy, and

environmentally friendly buildings with local characteristics.

Keywords: building environment transformation, government strategy, action plan,

carbonemission reduction

Preface

In May 2013, the United Nations (UN) News Centre reported that the world’s daily average

atmospheric CO2 concentration has exceeded 400ppm; the highest concentration level in a

million years. These results have consequently raised substantial concern from the UN.

Kaohsiung City, which is located in a topical climate zone south of the Tropic of Cancer,

accommodates a population of approximately 2.77 million, and occupies a regional

governance area of 2,946 square kilometers and an elevation range of over 3,500 meters. As a

result, Kaohsiung features diverse ethnicity and topography, unique local culture, and varying

climate conditions (e.g., hot and sunny with spontaneous heavy rainfall). Formerly a heavy

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industrial sector, Kaohsiung City has long been responsible for Taiwan’s economic

development. Consequently, air pollution has become a substantial problem for people

residing in the city. International statistics indicate that the annual CO2 emission in

Kaohsiung City has reached up to 9,613 metric tons, which is higher than the average CO2

emission per person in other major cities around the world. The city further demonstrates a

dense human population and heavy motorcycle traffic, which causes substantial CO2

emissions. Additionally, sites for new construction projects are increasing at approximately

140,000 square meters per year. This intense development has resulted in the reduction of

natural land. Furthermore, Kaohsiung City, which is prone to the greatest risks of natural

disasters in Taiwan, has lost its flood prevention and stormwater runoff mechanisms, thereby

exhibiting greater damage caused by global warming. Regarding building environment, the

construction of illegal metal housing and other chaotic urban constructions have raised

concerns of public safety, public health, and the urban heat island effect.

Feasibility Study of Policy frameworks

To promote the transformation of cities with high carbon emissions and prevent carbon

emissions from increasing, industrial sectors have comprehensively enacted energy savings

and carbon reduction policies. The carbon emission reduction goal of Kaohsiung City was set

higher than that of international standards (reducing carbon emissions in 2020 and 2030 by

30% and 50% of that for 2005). The promotion of the action plan for Kaohsiung building

environment transformation is based on the planning of the residential and commercial sector.

A periodical approach was used for plan promotion according to various topographical and

cultural environments, stressing local culture, green buildings, and citizen participation.

Relevant laws were established to ensure the practical implementation of the transformation

plan (Table 1). This plan enables a reconsideration of cultural positioning and corrects the

development of built environments. By adopting a core positioning of water and greenery, the

concepts of ecology, economy, livability, creativity, and internationality are used to remold

the living environment of whole Kaohsiung Area. Thus, along with the citizens of Kaohsiung

City, we promote the action plan for sustainable building environment transformation.

The Policy framework was started from 2010, and through 12 expert forums and 24 public

discussion workshops to make the framework of Kaohsiung low-carbon LOHAS city. The

figure 1 shows the structure for the government to make the holistic progress to promote the

LOHAS Kaohsiung, and the urban environmental feature sector is the main action plan for the

Sustainable Building and Environment Forming processes. The Action plan start integrated

with government pilot projects and public participantions to together step forward to the New

Kaohsiung future.

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Table 1. Execution focus for the various subprojects of the action plan for sustainable building environment

transformation

Subproject Execution concept

Green roofs

3D greenification of urban gardens\community awards and counseling

\benefit analysis（ disaster prevention and flood detention, temperature

reduction, energy saving and carbon reduction, landscapes for leisurely

activities, psychological healing, space utilization, urban ecological

diversity, social interactions ） \the development of public facility

corporation\rain water utilization\ meteorological data analysis and

application\ecological plan for rooftop farms

Photovoltaic

Constructing a “Solar City”\transforming illegal constructions on

rooftops\developing independent energy to prompt the green industry

\creating architectural characteristics\subsidizing photovoltaic installation in

private buildings（the predicted installation amount can reach 1MW and

produce 1.4 million kWh of electricity per year, and is estimated to decrease

880 tons of CO2 emission）

Kaohsiung

LOHAS

buildings

Activating community construction and cultural self-evidence\building

branding\increasing the quality and value of life\improving city

appearance\designing environmentally friendly buildings\promoting green

energy\enhancing the disaster prevention function of buildings\designs for

the aging population\constructing “Kaohsiung LOHAS” buildings,

establishing community workshops, and subsidizing and rewarding

academic research

Green buildings

Integrating the urban climate conditions of Kaohsiung City（e.g., high heat,

high humidity, and abundant sunlight） \corresponding to Kaohsiung’s

building environment issues（e.g., thermal insulation, urban heat island

effect, rainstorm and flood prevention ） \creating green building

environments that conform to local characteristics \creating water and

electricity saving, healthy, and environmentally friendly buildings\creating a

carbon and disaster reduction and healthy living environment

“Doctors” for

healthy buildings

Indoor air quality diagnosis and improvement for public buildings\diagnostic

verification for green and “Kaohsiung LOHAS” buildings\diagnosis and

improvement of current buildings\improvement plan for “sick” buildings

Green

beautification in

public spaces

Improving Kaohsiung City’s appearance\addressing disorderly and dirty

vacant land\eliminating environments that are prone to mosquito

breeding\stimulating land usage frequency\transforming vacant land

connected with communities into green land\subsidy and reward

measures\mitigating urban heat island effect\elevating health and quality of

life

International

collaboration

Signing a memorandum of agreement with the International Initiative for a

Sustainable Built Environment and Center for Housing Innovations, the

Chinese University of Hong Kong. A long-term, stable, and effective

industry-research collaborative partnership is established, thereby achieving

complementary advantages of cities, talent cultivation, promoting industries

with green building certifications, and constructing interactions and

collaborations among cities.

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Figure 1 The policy structure of Kaohsiung low-carbon LOHAS city

Community Participations and Empowerment by government

The following points were considered to increase the sense of participation among citizens of

Kaohsiung City, implement a sustainable community transformation, and enhance

government policy development and citizens’ interactions:

(a)The “Kaohsiung LOHAS” creativity competition was conducted with the inclusion of

international innovation in promoting the green building movement.

(b)The competition work was exhibited in various communities and schools to encourage

citizen participation.

(c)“Kaohsiung LOHAS” academic research that conformed to local conditions was

conducted to integrate local characteristics and development.

(d)Seed designers for building transformation projects were cultivated; and these designers

participated in community practices after being certified.

(e)Community workshops were established, and a stationed approach was employed to

attend to the locals’ demands, participation, and operations.

(f)Domestic and international experts and scholars were regularly invited to hold seminars

and practical discussions regarding design operations.

(g)Field visits to special communities in Meinong, Cishan, and Ciaotou Districts

(h)Constructing “Kaohsiung LOHAS No.1” and integrating professional design experience

gained by practice as reference for citizens.

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The Kaohsiung city government also sets the financial subsidy for the citizens who whant to

renovate the house achieves the principles of Kaohsiung LOHAS hosue, and the also to

renovate the illegal extra double roof by iron into photovoltec panel roof. There are two new

evaluation systems by Kaohsiung city government to certify the community and solar house

in Kaohsing, which is benefit to the new housing products for the development company can

get more good market in Kaohsing. Thay also are proud to get the certifications and make a

competitions inbetween. Figure 2 shows some activities of this action plan. There are 6 local

universities joined, 3 international workshops, 26 principle research projects, 82 workshops in

two years, 212 NGO and communities activities in programs, 6 new community groups, 8

Official facebook Forums, 742 students in competitions, More than 12,000 participants in this

two year actions.

Figure 2 the activities of the action plan in Kaohsiung

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Policy promotion and brand and overall mechanism establishment

To effectively plan Kaohsiung’s sustainable building environment transformation, innovative

laws and regulations were stipulated to arouse society to re-contemplate and define building

environments. Thus, the goals of fulfilling building environment construction according to

global environmental change, the introduction of industrial transformation, the coexistence of

disaster and its prevention mechanism, and cultural self-evidence are achieved.

The objectives of carbon and disaster reduction are achieved through stipulating Kaohsiung

City Green Building Self-Governance Regulation that conforms to the City’s needs,

promoting an ecological city, constructing a green building environment, creating a healthy

life quality, and supporting a green economy. In the proposed plan, photovoltaic construction,

the practical construction of “Kaohsiung LOHAS” buildings, local academic research, the

establishment of community workshops, and green roof improvement demonstrations are

subsidized. Consequently, community construction is activated and a platform is available for

collecting the consensus of social groups and community members. This down-to-up

participation movement and the matchmaking mechanism have created a site for verifying

and demonstrating the previously mentioned innovative laws and regulations.

Figure3. Policy promotion and the establishment of building brands and overall mechanisms

Results and Benefits of the action plan

The promotion of Kaohsiung Sustainable Building and Environment Forming now become

the demonstration of Taiwan, and more and more other county govenment try to follow the

concepts of the mechanism and adopt the new policies and framework from local

environmental characteristics. The promotion of the action plan is estimated to increase job

opportunities in building-related industries; thus, elevating the overall market output. For

example, the increase of more than 2000 job opportunities (in the photovoltaic system

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industry) generated a 1.5 billion output. With an estimated growth increase in photovoltaic

installments exceeding 10,000 kWp, additional system manufacturers and relevant industries

may settle in Kaohsiung. By the Kaohsiung LOHAS house labelling system the government

create the trends to encourage the local construction companies to promote more environment

oriental products to the market. (Figure 4) Consequently, the employment rate in Kaohsiung

City is increased and citizens who reside in other parts of Taiwan exhibit greater opportunities

and willingness to return to Kaohsiung for work. We anticipate that Kaohsiung City will

become a livable ecological city, and we endeavor to create a healthy living environment that

is capable of carbon and disaster reduction. The annual carbon reduction goal is set at 12,360

tons, and the estimated carbon reduction amount after a decade is 123,600 tons. (Figure 5)

Figure4. Policy promotion and the establishment of building brands and overall mechanisms

Figure5. The contributions of the action plan in these two years

References

1. The promotion project of renovation toward the solar buildings in Kaohsiung (2012-2013),

Kaohsiung city government, TAIWAN

2. The promotion project of Kaohsiung LOHAS House (2012-2013), Kaohsiung city government,

TAIWAN

3. Kaohsiung green building autonomous regulations (2012), Kaohsiung city government

Green industry

The number of increase

in job opportunities per

case (year)

Solar power

services approximately 350

Green roof


Green building


Community

workshops 248

Academic

researchers 53

Total 2061

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