In Taiwan, the government is to take five measures to cut greenhouse-gas emission and save energy at total budget of NT$1.2 billion (US$37 million at US$1:NT$33) over the next three years, according to Economics Minister C.M. Yiin.

The five measures include replacing Taiwan`s 260,000 incandescent traffic lights with LED lamps, further cutting electrical-bill discount rate and enlarging the coverage of discount beneficiaries, applying solar energy to public buildings, building a solar power plant, and assisting local governments set up LED-streetlight demonstration system.

The government will appropriate NT$484 million (US$14.6 million) from its economic stimulus budget to finance installation of solar-energy equipment at selected public sites, according to Senior MOEA officials. And this measure is estimated to bring NT$1 billion (US$30.3 million) worth of business to the island’s solar-energy industry as well as sharpen its competitive edge.

Discount beneficiary coverage, according to the officials, will be expanded to include public facilities at residential communities, residential houses as well as junior and senior high schools already using the discount incentive. Maximum discount rate can reach 70%, and the new formula will come into effect on July 1.

The measure will save estimated 3.8 billion megawatt/hour of electricity and over 3.29 million metric tons of carbon-dioxide emission in 2009.

The LED traffic light plan will also save around 93 million megawatt/hour of electricity and NT$86 million (US$2.6 million) in maintenance and cleanup costs, the ministry estimates.

The ministry will fund 25 local governments a total of NT$130 million (US$3.9 million) this year to support installation of LED streetlights.