by Ann Withanee — August 12, 2011—Having invested tremendous man-hour and resources, including critical information from its facilities team, over the past two years, Taipei 101 has finally passed all strict evaluation processes and been accredited Platinum Level Certification, hence rendering it the World’s Tallest Green Building, according to the building owners. The accreditation recognizes the high-level environmental commitment of Taipei 101, which was the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2010, marking a new milestone in the environmental protection efforts of both Taipei 101 and Taiwan.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)’s LEED-EBOM (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—Existing Building Operation and Maintenance) certification at Platinum Level reportedly helps Taipei 101 set three records:
- The Tallest Green Building
- The Largest Green Building (about 150,000sqm)
- The Most-user Green Building, with as many as 90 tenants
All LEED-EBOM candidates go through a very strict evaluation process. Over the period of more than two years, Taipei 101 has been through more than a hundred improvement and rectification projects. Tens of thousands of hours have been invested, both in terms of man-hour and resources, to achieve better performance in basic environmental requirements such as waste reduction, energy- and water-saving as well as other initiatives to improve indoor environmental quality, such as precise control of office temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide levels. With the collective effort of more than ten thousand building tenants and its facilities team, Taipei 101 obtained the certification.
The key factor that differentiates Gold Certification from Platinum Certification is the quality of air, explains USGBC. There are 11 mechanical floors in Taipei 101 that have air handling units to provide air conditioning to different sections. A CO2 sensor is installed in each unit. When higher CO2 level is detected, the AHU will automatically draw in fresh outdoor air to lower the level. The design specification for CO2 level in Taipei 101 is 600 ppm, which is lower than the national standard of 1000 ppm. Tenants of Taipei 101, therefore, are able to enjoy fresher air in the building, with a lower CO2 level.
Apart from CO2 control, the building also must monitor humidity level. Located in a subtropical zone, Taiwan is known for its high humidity, which is apt to cause physical discomfort. In Taipei 101, two sensors on each floor are installed to monitor humidity level through a centralized monitoring system on 24-hour basis. The sensors could activate the adjustment of the chilled water volume in the air-conditioning system to reduce humidity and enhance comfort levels.
The landscaping area of Taipei 101 is now 100 percent watered with the harvested rainwater. All parking lots of Taipei 101 are located in the basement level, which effectively reduces the urban heat island effect.
These and other sustainability initiatives not only led to the LEED-EBOM Platinum certification, but also help the massive structure’s facilities team keep energy costs and consumption down, as well as emissions, and lead to a greater level of comfort and satisfaction among tenants.
