More than half of Taiwan's buildings are now aged 30 years or older, with many facing problems such as inadequate functionality, aging pipelines and inconveniences for elderly residents. To address the challenges of a super-aged society, extreme weather and earthquakes, the government is investing NT$5 billion (US$156.5 million) to support interior and exterior renovations for housing aged 30 years or older. Program subsidies are available for apartment buildings of four to six stories, as well as freehold houses of up to six stories, helping to ensure that residents can live safely and with peace of mind.
Areas of focus
■ Enhancing building safety, resilience and functionality: Subsidize exterior wall repairs, waterproofing, leak prevention, and upgrades to shared facilities and equipment to strengthen overall community safety. Provide financial assistance for the installation of elevators and other vertical transportation equipment; improvements to barrier-free facilities; renovations and upgrades for public utility pipelines; and the addition of indoor handrails and step-free access features to create more age-friendly living environments.
■ Integrating energy efficiency, carbon reduction and net-zero transformation: Promote repairs over rebuilding in order to substantially reduce construction waste and carbon emissions. Encourage the installation of solar photovoltaic systems and the replacement of old appliances with energy-efficient upgrades, lowering energy consumption and positioning residential buildings as key sites for advancing the net-zero transition.
■ Using domestic building materials to support traditional industries: Require that all materials and equipment used in renovations under the program be sourced from domestic brands, helping to stimulate growth in the construction sector and traditional industries.