meter Taipei 101 has been officially named the tallest building in the world to achieve LEED accreditation. In a ceremony held in Taipei on July 28, officials from LEED and local dignitaries said the achievement heralds a new age in green construction. The tower, the highest in the world until the opening of Dubai's Burj Khalifa in 2010, achieved platinum certification; the highest recognition in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). "We started improving energy efficiency in 2007 and in the three years to 2010, we have already made that money back. From now on, we expect to save NT$36 million or US$1.2 million each year on energy costs, compared to 2007 levels," said Cathy Yang, vice president of the tower division of Taipei 101. The accreditation also sets a further two records for the world's largest and highest-use green building. While construction of the tower itself cost US $8 billion, the retrofit program, in association with Siemens and EcoTech, cost $2 million; ROI has already been achieved. LEED chairman Mark MacCracken and CTBUH chairman of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats, Dr. Sang Dae Kim, joined Taipei 101 officials, Harace Hong-Min Lin, chairman and president and Cathay Yang at the official event, along with chairman, CEO and chief scientist for EcoTech International, Robert Watson, the "founding father of LEED". The Big Project attended the launch in Taipei and will bring you in depth analysis of the systems installed and interviews with those on the front line of the technology in September.
