Green stadium in Taiwan is a wake-up call to western architects

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On April 15, 2008, I donned a hard hat to attend news conference at the Kaohsiung Stadium construction site in Taiwan along with 19 other US journalists. Like most great ideas, in retrospect it seems obvious…build a “green” stadium to preserve the environment and reduce costs—but no one has done it until now. Kaohsiung, Taiwan, host of the 2009 World Games, says their Main Stadium, with a seating capacity of 55,000, is the first large scale eco-venue with self-powered through solar-electrical generation.

On April 15, 2008, I donned a hard hat to attend news conference at the Kaohsiung Stadium construction site in Taiwan along with 19 other US journalists.

Like most great ideas, in retrospect it seems obvious…build a “green” stadium to preserve the environment and reduce costs—but no one has done it until now. Kaohsiung, Taiwan, host of the 2009 World Games, says their Main Stadium, with a seating capacity of 55,000, is the first large scale eco-venue with self-powered through solar-electrical generation.

Charles Lin, director of the Bureau of Public Works in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, said the stadium's solar energy panels will make the venue self-sufficient in electricity needs. The panels, along with nine green features, make the Stadium the first environmental eco-stadium in the history of The World Games. Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan, after Taipei, has an average of 2,282 hours of sun per year, averaging 5.6 hours daily. If the solar energy plates receive enough sunlight, they will be able to provide 80% of the electricity needs during the operation of the stadium and 100% during the remaining time. Any surplus electricity generated could be sold says Lin.

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It’s a wake up call to Western architects who build closed domed stadiums without solar panels. With the political shift toward alternative energy sources, getting funding for a stadium, arena, or convention center can be easier with grants used for solar panel installation, light emitting diodes, water reclamation systems and trash recycling. It also gives the public more reason to support a new facility (should a bond measure need to be passed by taxpayers) since they too are becoming more ecologically aware.

Article continues: http://www.examiner.com/x-5821-SF-Travel-Insights-Examiners~y2009m3d26-Open-stadium-in-Taiwan-is-a-wakeup-call-to-western-architects