Basic system
Multiple systems related to energy and green procurement have been introduced. The systems related to “Energy related” and “Green procurement related” are as follows.
Energy related
There are 3 system related to energy: Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), energy efficiency grading label system, energy saving mark system. The first 2 are compulsory, and energy saving mark system is voluntary.
Green procurement related
As mentioned above, the “Regulation on Institution Preferential Procurement of Environmental Protection Product” defines the government preferential procurement objects as “environmental protection products”, and classified them into 3 categories. These “environmental protection products” are products which have received the certification of green mark, energy mark, water saving mark, green building mark. Some of the “environmental protection products” that are subject to government preferential procurement products are self-declared by companies (2nd type).
The table on the next page is a summary of these various system, [Minimum energy performance standards/ Energy efficiency grading label system/Energy mark system/ green mark plan/ Water saving mark plan/ Green building mark system(EEWH)].
Table The major energy related systems
| Name | Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) | Energy efficiency grading label system | Energy saving system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature | mandatory | mandatory | voluntary |
| Preferential treatment system | – | – | environmental protection product (government preferential procurement objects) |
| Related law | Energy Management Law: Article 14 | Energy Management Law: Article 14 | Regulation on Institution Preferential Procurement of Environmental Protection Product |
| Start year | 2000 | 2010 | 2001 |
| Label | – |  |
 |
Table Other systems
| Name | Green mark plan | Water saving plan | Green building mark (EEWH) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature | voluntary | voluntary | voluntary |
| Preferential treatment system | preferential recycling cost environmental protection products (government preferential procurement objects) |
environmental protection products (government preferential procurement objects) | environmental protection products (government preferential procurement objects) |
| Related law | Regulation on Institution Preferential Procurement of Environmental Protection Product | Regulation on Institution Preferential Procurement of Environmental Protection Product | Regulation on Institution Preferential Procurement of Environmental Protection Product |
| Start year | 1992 | 1998 | 1999 |
| Label |  |
 |
 |
2nd type |
Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS)
Since the introduction of MEPS for refrigerators in 2020, standards for products have been set in sequence. Currently, at the homepage of Energy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, in addition to automobile-related items, there are also standards for boilers, air conditioner cooling devices, low-voltage three-phase cage induction motors, ductless air conditioners, low-voltage single-phase induction motors, fluorescent lamps, ballasts for fluorescent lamps, refrigerators, compact fluorescent lamps, fluorescent lamps with built-in ballasts, dehumidifiers, incandescent bulbs, light emitting diodes (LEDs) with built-in ballasts, electric pots, hot water storage electric water heaters, water servers, electric rice cookers, and air compressors.
Energy efficiency grading label system
Energy efficiency grade is displayed in 5 levels using a design that imitates a thermometer (refer to the table). Grade 1 shows the highest level, and the target products are as follows.
Target products
Ductless air conditioner, refrigerator, automobile, motorbike, dehumidifier, fluorescent lamp with built-in stabilizer, gas instant water heater, gas table stove, electric pot, hot water storage type electric water heater, hot water / boiled water type water server (boiler), cold water / hot water / boiled water type water server (boiler), hot water / hot water type water server (water cooler), cold water / hot water / hot water type water server (water cooler), electric rice cooker (enforced on January 1, 2020) )
Energy saving mark system
A label system which manufacturers imply voluntarily to guarantee environmental performance under the guidance of government.
This system is established to encourage companies to develop high energy efficiency technology, at the same time to promote the market incentives. In addition, promoting the R&D investment in high energy efficiency products is also one aim of it. Different with the above-mentioned minimum energy performance standards and energy efficiency grading system that are compulsory, this energy efficiency mark system is voluntary.
The applicants can affix energy saving mark after receiving relevant reviews and are judged to meet the energy efficiency standards based on the national standards (CNS). And the energy efficiency standards are revised regularly according to the market conditions.
According to the explanation of the website, which is set up to popularize the energy saving mark products, currently there are 51 types products are subject to the target products of energy saving mark system, and can be certified. On the website, it also shows that there are a total of 317 brands, and 7381 types products that have been certified as energy saving products. Currently, in addition to air conditioners and televisions, a wide range of products such as dryers and automobiles are also targeted.
The related authority regularly conducts sampling inspection, and the sampling inspection is stipulated by the Article 21 and Article 22 of the “Guidelines for promotion the usage of energy saving mark, Bureau of Energy, Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Related organizations
Overview of the related organizations. Each related organization will be described below.
Environment and Development Foundation
The foundation operates the “environmental protection product” system, which is the first type of “environmental protection product” stipulated in the “Regulation on Institution Preferential Procurement of Environmental Protection Product”. The operation by the foundation is commissioned by the Environmental Protection Administration of the Executive Yuan. The Energy Star Program is also run by the Foundation.
Green Consumption and Environmental Protection Products Council, Environmental Protection Administration, Executive Yuan
The council deliberates on items, priorities, specifications and standards for green mark products. The council’s supervision and verification authority carries out the verification work such as application, examination, issuance, and follow-up management for the certificate of the usage of environmental protection mark or the certificate of the 2nd type environmental protection products.
Industrial Technology Research Institute
An institution that is directly under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Its function is to make efforts for technological development and industry-academia-government collaboration, and promote energy-related labels (energy efficiency, energy saving mark). In Taiwan, the Ministry of Science and Technology, Executive Yuan, which is in charge of the introduction of advanced technology from overseas, but it seems that the Industrial Technology Research Institute is the main window for accepting the technology.
