Taoyuan City celebrates 3 tips to combat high temperatures during “Orange Light Day”: number of heat injuries dropped by 33%, hitting a 4-year low

The Tao City Environmental Protection Bureau prevents heat damage through three policies: "High Temperature Response Guidelines", "Cooling Energy Saving Subsidy for High Temperature Sensitive Groups" and "Adjustment of Cooling Spots in Tutai". (Provided by Environmental Protection Bureau)

Global warming and high-temperature days are frequent. The Tao City Environmental Protection Bureau has implemented three measures to prevent heat injuries. According to statistics, the number of high-temperature orange light days from May to August this year was 16, which is the same as the same period last year. However, the average number of daily heat injuries caused by orange lights dropped from 2.88 last year to 1.94, a decrease of about 33%, which was the lowest in the same period in the past four years. This shows that heat prevention measures are gradually taking effect.

Environmental Protection Bureau Director Yan Jijie said that Taoyuan has created an urban heat protection safety net through three policies: "High Temperature Response Guidelines", "Cooling Energy Saving Subsidy for High Temperature Sensitive Groups" and "Adapting Cooling Spots in Tutai", from cross-bureau response, household cooling to public space summer escape.

He pointed out that in November last year, the city government formulated the "High Temperature Response Guidelines" and established a three-stage response mechanism of normal, orange light and red light, and formulated corresponding protective measures for workers working outdoors, agriculture, fishery and animal husbandry, outdoor activity organizers and ordinary citizens. On May 28 this year, 19 bureaus were invited for the first time to conduct a high temperature war game to review the reporting process and cross-bureau collaboration to strengthen response capabilities.

In terms of home protection, children and the elderly spend a lot of time at home, so heat protection at home is particularly important. This year, Taoyuan launched the "High Temperature Sensitive Groups Cooling Energy Saving Subsidy" for families with children under 6 years old or elderly people over 65 years old, providing air conditioning Subsidies such as maintenance and cleaning, purchase of Grade 1 energy-efficient air conditioners, and glass insulation films. Due to the overwhelming response, an additional RMB 10 million was provided for the second wave of air conditioner subsidies. It is estimated that approximately 480,000 kilowatt hours of electricity can be saved and approximately 227 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent can be reduced each year.

In order to avoid the heat in public spaces, the Environmental Protection Bureau built an adjustment map station on the "Taoyuan City Carbon Neutral Information Platform" to provide real-time temperature and high-temperature light signals. It also integrated the Ministry of Environment's Cool Map and Taoyuan survey data to list nearly 1,600 cool spots, covering public institutions, parks, temples, campuses, shopping malls, etc. People can check nearby locations through their mobile phones, and rest nearby according to opening hours and on-site conditions to reduce exposure to high temperatures.

The Tao City Government's "Cooling and Energy Saving Subsidy for High Temperature Sensitive Groups" provides subsidies for air conditioner cleaning, purchase of Class 1 energy-efficient air conditioners, and glass insulation film. (Provided by Environmental Protection Bureau)

The "Adaptation Chart Cooling Spot" allows the public to search for nearby summer resorts. (Provided by Environmental Protection Bureau)