Due to the impact of climate change around the world, how to protect our living environment has become a significant task for the global community. In order to utilize natural energy sources and to protect the environment during the reconstruction process after Typhoon Morakot, NGOs and the Executive Yuan’s Morakot Post-Disaster Reconstruction Council have worked attentively to introduce green energy equipment such as solar power generators, solar thermal water heating systems and wind power generators to permanent housing community, disaster prevention shelters and newly reconstructed facilities on campuses.

Executive Yuan’s Reconstruction Council has coordinated with the Ministry of Economic Affairs to allocate 84 million TWD to assist with the installation of 67 units of solar power generating system and emergency disaster-prevention electrical system, of which, 12 units of solar power generating system are installed in permanent housing community to supply electricity for public facilities of reconstructed buildings, and to supply backup power for the emergency rescue communication system when communications are cut off by disaster. The other 55 units of emergency disaster-prevention electrical system have been successively installed, with the aim of completing installation by the end of April this year, before the flood season, in the Nantou, Chiayi, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung areas, which are prone to isolation in the event of road damage or power outage.

Respecting the installation of the solar thermal water heating system, the government has worked in cooperation with NGOs to create green energy permanent housing community. In addition to coordinating with the Ministry of Economic Affairs to prepare a subsidiary budget, local governments and NGOs make use of charitable donations added to the budget to show their devotion in implementing green energy policies. Until now, the solar thermal water heating system has been installed in 248 units of permanent housing community such as Wulipu Xiaolin Community and Shanlin Sunlight Xiaolin Community in Kaohsiung City, Dongxing Community in Yunlin County, Zhanliyuan Community in Nantou County. Each household can save about 8,700 TWD on electricity, which is estimated based on the average daily household water use of 250 liters.

The Executive Yuan’s Reconstruction Council has examples to explain the concrete achievements of the green energy construction. For instance, the BENQ Foundation helped to provide one unit of 3 kilowatt disaster-prevention solar power generator to Kaaluwan Elementary School in Taitung County, and one unit of 67.5 kilowatt generator to Taiwu Elementary School in Pingtung county. In addition to supplying electricity for the schools, there is always an extra amount of electricity resold to Taiwan Power Company every year. Moreover, not only are LED light facilities installed on the campuses, but some of the classrooms are designed as green architecture and use natural ventilation systems. The Delta Electronics Foundation helped to provide one unit of 10.5 kilowatt solar power generator and 6 units of 3 kilowatt wind power generator to Minquan Elementary School in Namaxia District, Kouhsiung City, which helps the school save about 27,000 TWD on electricity every year. The Delta Electronics Foundation also helped the Pingtung County Government advocate the plan of “Transforming Fish-Farming into Solar Power Generation”. The plan takes place at unregistered fish farms in Linbian Township and wax apple farms that were buried or washed away by Typhoon Morakot. Private companies are invited to invest in the 434,445 square meter demonstration district that will start to supply electricity. It is estimated that it will add 43,362,000 kilowatts of renewable energy each year, and decrease 32.08 million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, which is valuable for international promotion regarding the environmental issues of climate change and global warming.

In addition to active engagement in the promotion of green construction in reconstruction areas, the Executive Yuan’s Reconstruction Council urges NGOs involved in the reconstruction process to procure environmentally friendly and energy-saving products to achieve the goal of building green and sustainable homes.
 

Solar thermal water heaters installed in Sunlight Xiaolin Community in Kaohsiung

Wind power generators installed in Minquan elemantary school in Kaohsiung

Solar panels installed in Shanlin Da-Ai Community in Kaohsiung

Solar panels installed on the roof of Taiwu elementary school in Pintung