Kaohsiung Joins Hands with the Netherlands to Cooperate on Developing Green Buildings

(Taiwan Business News) On the 17th, the Kaohsiung City Government signed a memorandum of cooperation on sustainable building practices with the Netherlands SBS Sustainable Building Center. Mayor Chen Chu said in her speech that this agreement strengthens technical exchanges between the two sides on zero-carbon buildings, sustainable development training courses and other related matters. It symbolizes that Kaohsiung's achievements in sustainable green buildings can rise to the international stage, allowing Kaohsiung to contribute within the global subtropical green building circle, and cultivates an international outlook among local talent in Kaohsiung.

At the 2014 "Kaohsiung House" Livable Green Building International Forum and the exhibition of achievements from past years organized by the Public Works Bureau, scholars and experts from the Netherlands, Canada and Taiwan were invited to present the latest research and development trends in sustainable green buildings from various countries. A memorandum of technical exchange and cooperation was also signed with Professor Ronald Rovers of the SBS Sustainable Building Center, enhancing interaction and exchange between the city government and international organizations.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu said that with the joint efforts of the city government team and industry, last year (2013) the city entered the International Awards for Liveable Communities, jointly organized by the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Parks Association and known as the Green Oscars, and won a total of 4 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze awards, making it the city with the most awards in the world. Among these, the "Kaohsiung House Project - Sustainable Building Environment Special Project" won the silver award at the International Awards for Liveable Communities. In addition, the solar photovoltaic project also received the top special award, the highest honor of the Executive Yuan's recommendation system, last year.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu said that the 2014 Third Green Building Awards, which the city hosted and co-organized, and the "Seeing Taiwan, Seeing Rooftops — Creative Liberation of Corrugated Iron Rooftops Imaginary Design Five-School Joint Design Review Activity" were enthusiastically attended. Through these selection activities, design units, development units and citizens had the opportunity to understand Kaohsiung's architecture and humanities and arts, and to gain a deeper understanding of Kaohsiung's sustainable green buildings, inspiring design creativity and responses.