TSMC Charity Foundation’s “Public Welfare Green Energy Project” Helps the Disadvantaged Save Energy
TSMC Charity Foundation expands the scope of its public welfare work with an innovative service model. In addition to promoting the “Rural Vocational Training Program” which created a mutually beneficial tripartite cycle between schools, enterprises, and social welfare institutes, it further launched the “Public Welfare Green Energy Project” to assist social welfare institutes and rural schools in collaboration with city governments and universities. This charity-based eco-friendly project aims to enhance energy efficiency and supplement these institutes’ operational expenditure by selling green energy, thus reducing their financial burdens. As of March 2022, TSMC Charity Foundation has installed solar panels at 2 social welfare institutes, generating 163,000 kWh of electricity per year. The program has also replaced traditional bulbs with LED bulbs at 62 rural schools, reducing carbon emissions by 238 tons. Through green energy rebates and electricity fee reductions, a total of NT$2.43 million in green benefits was created.
The Public Welfare Green Energy Project not only helps the disadvantaged save energy, it also saves money which can be used in supporting institutes care for the elderly and children in need.
Industry, Government and University Cooperate to Cultivate a Sustainable Green Energy Business Model
Due to its long-term dedication to caring for the disadvantaged, the TSMC Charity Foundation discovered that many social welfare institutes not only need stable financial support but are also troubled by high electricity bills caused by old electrical appliances. In order to alleviate the financial burdens of these institutes, the “Public Welfare Green Energy Project” was initiated in 2020 in collaboration with the Tainan City Government and National Cheng Kung University. The city government prioritized and introduced the institutes in need, TSMC’s Facility organization and peer vendor assessed the construction conditions, while the research team from National Cheng Kung University played a role in developing the Charitable Green Energy Platform which provides better maintenance service with real-time monitoring on energy generation and operation status of the installed panels. It is this alliance of three like-minded institutions that gradually created an environmentally friendly cycle of common good.
When it comes to LED Lighting Replacement Program, TSMC Charity Foundation took stock of rural schools who lacked new energy-saving lighting equipment and worked with the college student team from Kun Shan University to change traditional energy-intensive lighting equipment. The program provided rural schools with a brighter learning environment while reducing electricity cost. By working together with peer electricians, not only did the college students earn a basic wage (most members are in straitened circumstances), they also gained technical knowledge and practical experience. To everyone’s excitement, the student project won the Youth Group Excellence in Service Award and Popular Vote Award by the Ministry of Education Youth Volunteer Team Competition in 2021.
TSMC Charity Foundation’s “Public Welfare Green Energy Project”─Solar Panel and LED Lighting Collaboration Model
TSMC Charity Foundation continues to promote the Public Welfare Green Energy Project and is expected to expand the scale with an investment of NT$70 million for the project in 2022, installing solar panels at 6 social welfare institutes and replacing LED lighting equipment at 240 rural schools, which will generate 2.5 million kWh of power and reduce carbon emissions by 960 tons. TSMC Charity Foundation further expects a total of NT$15 million in green benefits will be produced each year which will provide support for the social welfare institutes and rural schools in need.