Outdone by an tower extending over 800 metres in Dubai, the world's former tallest building, Taipei 101, wants to become the highest green structure by completing a checklist of clean energy standards, a spokesman said Monday. Taipei 101 will spend T$60 million ($1.9 million) over the next year to meet 100 criteria for an environmental certificate that it would hold over Dubai, spokesman Michael Liu said. The office-commercial tower that reigned for five years as the world's highest building at 509 meters (1,670 feet) expects the US-based Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design to give it the certificate in 2011. Taipei 101, Liu said, would work with its 85 office tenants to cut electricity and water use, while encouraging them to recycle more refuse. Annual utility savings should total T$20 million. Restaurants would be asked to bring in supplies from as close as possible to reduce transportation. The Taiwan skyscraper has already met 60 of the checklist items, including double-paned windows to retain cool air.
