5。2。 Water conservation measure
This paper focuses on water conservation index in green building evaluation system。 Water conservation is a critical category of this evaluation system, and is considered in relation to saving water resources through building equipment design。 This evaluation index contains standardized scientific quantification and can be used in the pre-design stage to obtain the desired result。 The evaluation index is also based on research in Taiwan and is practically applicable。 Using water-saving equipment is the most effective way of saving water; using two-sectioned water-saving toilets and water-saving showering devices without a bathtub are especially effective。 Various other types of water-recycling equipment for reusing intermediate water and rain are also evaluated。 In particular, rainwater-use systems in building designs are encouraged。 When a candidate for a Green Building project introduces water recycling system or a rainwater use system, the applicant should propose an appropriate calculation report to the relevant committee to verify its water-saving efficiency。 This guideline actually appears to be a reasonable target for performing Green Building policy in Taiwan。
A new building can easily reach the above water conservation index。 This evaluation system is designed to encourage people to save more water, even in existing buildings。 All this amounts to saying that large-scale government construction projects should take the lead in using such water-saving devices, as an example to society。
6。 Conclusion
This paper introduces the Green Building program and proposes a water conservation index with standardized scientific quantification。 This evaluation index contains standardized scientific quantification and can be used in the pre-design stage to obtain the expected results。 The measure of evaluation index is also based on the essential research on Taiwan and is a practical and applicable approach。 The actual water-saving rate (WR) for Green Building projects should be <0。8, and the AR of the water-saving equipment should be higher than 0。8。 Thus, qualified Green Building projects should achieve a water saving rate of over 20%。 For the sustainable policy, this program is aimed not only at saving water resources, but also at reducing the environmental impact on the earth。
The Green Building Label began to be implemented from 1st September 1999, and over twenty projects have already been awarded the Green Building Label in Taiwan, while the number of applications continues to increase。 For a country with limited resources and a high-density population like Taiwan, the Green Building policy is important and represents a positive first step toward reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable development。 Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Architecture & Building Research Institute of the Ministry of the Interior of Taiwan (ABRI) and the National Science Council of the Republic of China for financially supporting this research under Contract No。 NSC89-2211-E-011-034。
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