Trip Report. Study Tour to Taiwan on Green Building and Materials Technology July 2010

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1 Trip Report Study Tour to Taiwan on Green Building and Materials Technology July 2010 Summary This study tour covered the application of green building design and green materials for Building and Construction Industry in Taiwan. The objective of this study tour is to upgrade the professionalism of Hong Kong engineers in the advanced green building and materials technologies by visiting the latest green building projects and green materials manufacturing factories. In this study tour, we had a meeting with Taiwan Green Building Council to acquire more information of Taiwan green building evaluation system and regulations for encouraging sustainable buildings. Besides, we visited four green building material manufacturers and one green building in Taiwan. Details Day 1 (12 July 2010), We visited Intelligent living space 3.0. This is a showroom, under the Architecture and Building Research Institute (ABRI), Ministry of the Interior, for encouraging sustainable buildings in Taiwan construction industry. This showroom makes good use of technologies in 3 areas: Environmental, Health Care and Information altogether to demonstrate green buildings technology to come up with the trend in environmental issue. Besides, we visited EGA House which is a green demonstration house to show green designs and novel materials for living houses. Some examples are shown below: 1. Rain recycled system installed outdoors for collecting rain for plant irrigation. 2. The introduction of triple solar panels (both electricity and heat insulation, self-cleaning) for solar power to reduce the use of electricity. 3. The use of insulated glass to minimize the penetration of outdoor solar heat to lower the indoor temperature. 4. The use of a small windmill system (Fig. 1) to introduce air into the house through underground tube to achieve good air ventilation to save energy (Fig 2). 5. Self-cleaning nano-materials used in building facades to reduce the cost of cleaning external building walls.

Aurotek produces automatic metallic window shutters (Fig.

light and maintain the indoor temperature caused by solar heat for saving energy up to 50%.

2 Fig. 1 Windmill Fig. 2 Green House Design In the afternoon, we visited Aurotek which is a window shutter manufacturer. Aurotek produces automatic metallic window shutters (Fig. 3) installed for buildings so that they can control the indoor light intensity induced by natural light and maintain the indoor temperature caused by solar heat for saving energy up to 50%. Compared with traditional window shutters, the effectiveness to insulate the solar heat from outdoor penetrating into indoor is 3 times much better, which can greatly reduce the indoor temperature up to 80%. Fig. 3 Automatic winder shutter

Day 2 (13 July 2010) Taiwan Glass Group is the largest glass manufacturer in Taiwan.

automotive. Firstly, we visited the showroom of glass products which include reflective glass, low-e glass, insulating glass, tempered glass and sound control laminated glass.

Actually, one of the business trends of Taiwan Glass Group is to introduce coating technology for glass products in order to produce environmental friendly glass.

3 Day 2 (13 July 2010) Taiwan Glass Group is the largest glass manufacturer in Taiwan. In the morning session, we visited one of the factories in Taichung ( 台中 ) where employs plate glass processing technology to provide glass used in domestic, architectural building materials and automotive. Firstly, we visited the showroom of glass products which include reflective glass, low-e glass, insulating glass, tempered glass and sound control laminated glass. All of these products are to meet with the current global trends of energy conservation and environmental protection. Then, we visited the production line for the reflective glass. Actually, one of the business trends of Taiwan Glass Group is to introduce coating technology for glass products in order to produce environmental friendly glass. This can be used as solar heat filter to allow visible light passing through the glass for indoor natural light for buildings but the coating can reflect solar heat radiation. Therefore, this can greatly reduce the indoor temperature but, on the other hand, can maintain the natural light for indoor use. This similar technology can also be used in automotive industry. Besides, we had a chance to visit glass testing laboratory. The quality of glass products are necessary to be checked via the drop test (Fig.4). A steel ball drops from a certain height on the surface of glass complied with the international standard to check if the glass product can withstand the impact of an object. High pressure impact test was also demonstrated (Fig. 5) during our visit. Fig. 5 High pressure impact test Fig. 4 Drop test Fig. 6 The manufacturing process of glass (Source: Taiwan Glass Group)

Their products are labeled as Green Building Materials under Taiwan Architecture & Building Centre.

4 In the afternoon session, we visit Champion Group which is a manufacturer of environmental friendly tiles. The company was awarded as a Green Environment Protection Industry and granted ISO Green Choice in Taiwan. Their products are labeled as Green Building Materials under Taiwan Architecture & Building Centre. In the first part of the tour, we visited the Green Materials Centre (Fig 7) which displayed the green manufacturing processes of tiles and porcelains (Fig.8). Also, nano based tiles with self-cleaning functions was introduced in the Centre. In the second part, in addition to touring in the production factory to explore the manufacturing processes from raw materials mixing, molding, sintering, coating, quality check to packaging, we learnt the recycled materials system to make use of waste generation and low energy consumption production process by using advanced thermal technology. Fig. 7 Tour visit at Green Materials Centre Fig. 8. The tour guide explaining the manufacturing process of tiles. Day 3 (14 July 2010) In the morning session, we visited Green Public Library (Fig. 9) which is granted as the highest award (Diamond rating) of Taiwan EEWH green building evaluation system given by the Minister of Interior, Taiwan Government. EEWH is the green building certification system in Taiwan. EEWH comprises nine indicators that fall into four categories: Ecology, Energy saving, Waste reduction and Health. This building is mainly made of wood to reduce the energy consumption of producing building materials such as steels. We also learnt that the building design makes use of natural light and air ventilation so that less electrical energy will be used for light and air-conditioners. Besides, we also visited the roof of the Library installed with solar cells devices (Fig. 10) acted as electrical power supplier for the building use. Approximately 15% electricity of the building is generated from the roof of the solar cell system which can reduce electrical consumption.

Fig. 9 Diamond rating Green Public Library Fig.

However sulphur will react with oxygen gradually to become sulphur dioxide which is toxic and

So gypsum board is always treated as a harmful building material to the environment.

5 Fig. 9 Diamond rating Green Public Library Fig. 10 Solar cell system installed at the roof In the afternoon, we visited Universal gypsum board factory ( 台灣環球石膏廠 ). Sulphur is one of the common elements to be added in the manufacturing process of gypsum board. However sulphur will react with oxygen gradually to become sulphur dioxide which is toxic and hazardous to human and environment. So gypsum board is always treated as a harmful building material to the environment. Universal produces gypsum without sulphur element but its properties remain unchanged. Actually the process is not complicated. The only difference is to use desulphurized raw gypsum materials to make environmental friendly gypsum (Fig. 11). Fig. 11 Desulphurized raw gypsum powder Fig. 12 The manufacturing process of gypsum board

Comments 1. After meeting with Taiwan Green Building Council, we understood that Taiwan Government has shown strongly support in the green building issue in Taiwan.

6 Comments 1. After meeting with Taiwan Green Building Council, we understood that Taiwan Government has shown strongly support in the green building issue in Taiwan. The government carried out some regulations and laws to encourage green idea implemented for newly green building projects. 2. Most of the manufacturers in Taiwan realize the importance of environmental friendly issue so they are starting to invest their business to become greener manufacturers by using advanced machines and technology to replace traditional one in order to save energy and reduce CO 2 emission during the manufacturing process. 3. Participant showed their positive support for this study tour because they could understand the EEWH system by visiting green building project in Taiwan. This could broaden their horizon in green building design and may consider applying to Hong Kong industry. Group photo

7 The schedule of Taiwan study tour (11-14 July 2010) Day 1 visit (12 July 2010) Day 2 visit Visit "Intelligent living space" Centre Visit "EAG House" Centre Meeting with Taiwan Green Building Council Meeting with Architecture and Building Research Institute, Ministry of the Interior Visit Aurotek Corporation (13 July 2010) Visit Taiwan Glass Industrial Corporation Day 3 visit (14 July 2010) Visit Champion Building Materials Co., Ltd Visit Taipei Green Building - Taipei Public Library Visit Universal Cement Corporation - Gypsum Board Plant

Sustainable Building Design and Renewable Applications

THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY 香港理工大學 Sustainable Building Design and Renewable Applications Dr. Lu Lin, Vivien Associate Professor Department of Building Services Engineering The Hong Kong Polytechnic