Introduction
When speaking of “low-carbon cities,” most people think of cutting-edge technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, or zero-emission transportation. However, on a fundamental level, “facilities” are the most important infrastructure for any city, from parks and alleyways to buildings and main roads. Facilities not only supply the material needs of city residents, but also showcase the design motifs and lifestyles of a city.
“Comprehensive” implementation of low-carbon standards lies at the heart of the 2019 European Green New Deal, which seeks to “Achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050” and contains ten policy aims related to circular economy, building renovation, zero pollution, ecosystems and biodiversity, and other goals (please refer to the table below).(*Note 1)
Important Measures | Description |
Climate neutrality | - Aim to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and present a draft of the “Climate Law” in March 2020
|
Circular economy | - Promote sustainable product policies and reduce material consumption
- Encourage measures that allow enterprises to provide consumers with products that are reusable, durable, and repairable
|
Building renovation | - Strict enforcement of building energy performance laws
- Implement building renovations through Energy Performance Contracting
- Improve energy efficiency of rental housing
- Renovate social housing for the disadvantaged
|
Zero pollution | - Achieve a zero-pollution environment encompassing water environment and air monitoring laws, tighten emission standards, and review large-scale industrial pollution
|
Ecosystems & biodiversity | - Continue afforestation efforts to increase CO2 absorption
- Establish a sustainable blue economy by exploring the potential of renewable marine energies
|
Farm to fork strategy | - Reduce use of chemical pesticides, fertilizers, and antibiotics to establish a green and healthy agricultural system
|
Transport | - It is estimated that Europe will deploy 1 million public charging stations and biofuel stations, as well as 13 million zero-emissions and low-emissions vehicles on roads by 2025
- Revise and strengthen emission standards for air pollutants
|
Affordable and secure energy | - Develop new revenue sources, use a Just Transition Mechanism to assist regions dependent on fossil fuels, and support carbon reduction and adaption programs
|
R&D and innovation | - Implement new climate solutions associated with green agreements, including low-carbon fuel, artificial intelligence, and information digitalization research, as well as prospective and innovative developments
|
Source: “The European Green Deal”; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:b828d165-1c22-11ea-8c1f-01aa75ed71a1.0002.02/DOC_1&format=PDF
Two important points should be noted regarding implementation of low-carbon living through facilities: First, facilities are an indispensable part of urban infrastructure, covering transportation, communications, and ecosystems. Second, industry chains for facility construction encompass materials, design, engineering, renovations, and other demand-side sectors, meaning that development of facilities can advance an entire industry chain.
However, there are also some challenges that should be noted. Although construction technologies are advancing day by day, the industry itself has a considerable degree of conservatism and inertia, so making strides toward low-carbon living poses an even greater challenge. However, the current European Green New Deal makes it clear that facilities are at the core of low-carbon living and are part of the consensus rather than just a policy aim.
In fact, this shift is not just happening in Europe. Many other countries have followed in the footsteps of the European Green New Deal and have become aware of the important role facilities play in low-carbon transitions. In 2021, the Korean government announced the “Korean New Deal 2.0 Action Plan,” which stipulated that old public buildings and public rental housing would gradually be transformed into zero-energy buildings and infrastructures would be upgraded to enhance energy efficiency. Additionally, in 2020, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced the “Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality in 2050,” which also promoted zero-energy housing and facilities in the relevant sectors.(*Note 2)
Promotion of green infrastructure through laws and regulations: Making strides toward new facilities under a multidirectional strategy
Practical implementation of policies always starts with regulations. Without legal regulations or promotion, policies lack implementation motivations and incentives. For example, the “Green Building Label” announced by the Ministry of the Interior is based on assessments of nine indicators which include the green intensity indicator, base water conservation indicator, water resource indicator, daily energy savings indicator, carbon reduction indicator, waste reduction indicator, wastewater and solid waste improvement indicator, biodiversity indicator, and the indoor environment indicator. The label is issued to facilities certified as green buildings following review and approval of these indicators by the Green Building Label Evaluation Committee.
Taoyuan City promotes establishment of green buildings through a number of green regulations, including the “Self-Government Regulations for Low-Carbon and Green Urban Development in Taoyuan City,” “Taoyuan City Self-Government Regulations on Greening of Building Bases,” and “Taoyuan City Regulations for Installing Greening and Renewable Energy Facilities on Building Rooftops,” which are paired with incentive measures such as the “Green Building Design Floor Space Incentive” program to encourage joint participation from construction companies and engineering units. Apart from enhancing quality of life and driving development of sustainable cities, the aforementioned regulations improve urban greening from multiple aspects including green coverage rates, exterior and rooftop greening, scope of renewable energy facilities, and designated planting areas.
On the other hand, these diverse policies and indicators also help to optimize the construction industry. A general consensus agreeing that urban greening is an indispensable industrial development can be advantageous for local industries in Taoyuan, as it creates a mutual win for the demand side, supply side, and public interest.
Examples of green buildings and advantages of Taoyuan
The example set by Taoyuan City shows that policies must be publicly effective to drive sustainability. For example, Taoyuan completed construction of the publicly owned Zhongli First Market in 2021. This market had been at the center of public consumption needs since the Japanese occupation period, but the premises had fallen into disrepair, so were demolished and rebuilt starting from 2017. The new facilities have kept the original “Zhongli Big Clock” and were designed using “green building” and “smart building” concepts, being the first market design to integrate these two new design standards.(*Note 3) Additionally, the market also uses a variety of smart systems such as smart air-conditioning systems, smart lighting control systems, smart water and electric meters and billing systems, and smart parking systems, completely integrating humanistic needs and ecosystems through its building materials, designs, systems, and functions.
Furthermore, the Taoyuan Convention and Exhibition Center, which is scheduled to be completed in 2023, is also being built in accordance with green building criteria, and will be the first international convention center in Taoyuan City. The Center will provide a quality space for large-scale industrial and commercial developments, play an important role in building connections with the world, and make Taoyuan a city synonymous with international economic and trade exchanges.
Another success story is the Taoyuan Public Library, which soft launched at the end of October 2022. This building not only features environmentally friendly exterior materials and a sky-well(*Note 4), but also uses the arts to build links between the public and the city, inspiring public curiosity toward sustainable living in the most comfortable manner by integrating humanistic values and green building technologies with the lives of the general public. This building was awarded the highest-ranking “Excellence” award in the “Planning & Design Category” of the FIABCI-Taiwan Real Estate Excellence Awards in 2018.