Premier Su Tseng-chang on Thursday received a briefing on efforts to install air conditioning in elementary and middle school classrooms across Taiwan. In the year and a half since the policy was announced in July 2020, the government has completed installing over 180,000 air conditioning units and improved electrical power systems at more than 3,300 elementary and middle schools nationwide—all ahead of schedule on January 23 this year. This will allow schoolchildren everywhere, whether in rural or urban areas, to enjoy learning in a comfortable, air-conditioned environment this summer.
On July 7, 2020, when Premier Su announced that the central government would invest NT$32.3 billion (US$1.1 billion) to promote the air conditioning policy, the original time frame was set to three and a half years. Thanks to the efforts of many people, the project was completed early, in only a year and a half. This will give our children a better learning environment and ensure each generation of Taiwan is stronger than the last, the premier said.
The premier said that, in addition to the successful installation of air conditioners and upgraded electrical facilities, this May will also see the completion of the government's "power generation at every school" project that will enable each school to generate its own electricity from rooftop solar panels. The electrical power generated in this way will reach an annual total of 410 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), equivalent to about 1.6 times the 260 million kWh to be used by school air conditioning. Schools will not only become self-sufficient, but can sell the excess 150 million kWh of energy. This electricity rebate will pay for schools' utility and renovation costs, enabling further improvement of campus facilities.
The premier also instructed the Ministry of Education to oversee schools in the swift completion of all integrated testing of newly installed equipment before the summer. The detailed inspection of new facilities will ensure the safe and stable operation of schools' air conditioning and electricity supply for the future.