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| Contributions to Society |
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Contributing to society is one of the four pillars of CSR as defined by Delta. In addition to providing a better quality of life through our high quality products and services we also actively participate in various charitable activities. In recent years, Delta and the Foundation have worked together and made significant progress addition to our long-term focus on environmental education, promoting green buildings, developing talent, supporting academic research, and responding to important social issues. 2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the Delta Foundation. We have introduced a series of events in an effort to improve the public's understanding of urgent environmental and energy issues at hand. |
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Environmental and Energy Education on
Campus and in the Community |
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| ▍Energy Education |
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Climate change is an issue that both the current generation and future generations must face. Now that anthropic greenhouse gases have been confirmed as the main cause of global warming, only people equipped with the right concepts and knowledge can make the choice to save energy and reduce carbon emissions in the way they live. Elementary schools are the foundation of our education system so we have continued to develop the "Taiwan Energy Education Program (TEEP)" which is localized teaching materials for elementary students. Starting with learning about different types of energy, we guide students in how to measure the power consumption of everyday appliances. Energy consumption throughout product lifecycles and the concept of carbon footprint are then introduced so that students take an active interest and help to reduce energy consumption at home and at school. They may even boost their parents, relatives and friends' carbon awareness so the goal of reducing carbon emissions can be met.
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A team of volunteers made up of Delta employees and external partnersthe Society of Wilderness has now spread the knowledge and techniques for energy conservation to over 45,000 class attendances and tens of thousands of families. This program has been one of the most successful projects implemented by domestic NPOs (non-profit organizations).
Additionally, the Delta Foundation hosted the "Taiwan Energy Education Summit Forum," in which a total of 89 organizations composed of school principles, first -line education management personnel, private organization personnel, and government related departments were in attendance. Through the three aspects of campus operations, design of teaching material, and knowledge sharing, the group discussed the current experiences and future prospects for energy education, while exhibiting the operating successes of several energy-saving educational campuses and role model schools (JianAn Elementary School, Hui Wen Elementary School, Mingdao High School, Bihu Elementary School, Da Shan Elementary School) supported by the Delta Foundation. Following the meeting, representatives from the various schools signed the "Declaration of Energy Education." This document not only encourages communities to pursue an effective education strategy to make the public concerned about energy, environment, and climate change issues, and learn about more efficient energy usage, but also enforces a firm commitment to developing and implementing an energy education program within their own education systems. Participants will gladly share their experiences in practical energy usage to train citizens in the ways of efficient energy and adaptability for the future.
After the forum, nearly 20 more schools have applied for the voluntary guest speaker services provided by the Delta Foundation. It is clear that the event has had a significant impact in spreading energy education to more campuses.
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| ▍Ecological Education |
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Since the public screening of documentaries such as "An Inconvenient Truth" and "±2ºC - The Truth about Taiwan", climate change and environmental protection themed documentaries have received more and more attention. Apart from sponsoring the screening or production of the films mentioned, in 2010 the Delta Foundation collaborated with the CNEX Foundation 15 for the first time to organize an environmental protection themed documentary film festival by the name of "The Next Homeland." 68 films were selected from around the world. Topics included green building, water resources, renewable energy, environmental protection, natural disasters, genetically modified food and organic food issues. These documentaries displayed the symbiotic relationship between man and nature. They explored the endless possibilities of environmentally friendly solutions to inspire discussions of the future. These film projects brought fresh issues and ideas to Taiwanese audiences. Discussions were held following 28 of the screenings, in which directors or film crews interacted live with the audiences. All commemorative products and t-shirts for this event were produced with organic recyclable materials; moreover, the event organizers also organized a group of domestic organic and fair trade retailers to promote green marketing.
According to statistics, the ten-day film festival attracted approximately 2,300 attendances. Upon further investigation of the audiences, we could also deduce which topics people tended to take more of an interest in or are more familiar with. The Delta Foundation then selected five films to screen at Delta plants in Taiwan. The screenings attracted nearly 300 attendances and in some areas, 10% of the plant area employees were in attendance. From the reactions to the Delta internal film festival, it was clear that Delta employees had a stronger understanding of environmental issues, a result of the "Care for the Environment, Energy-saving and Our Green Earth" company philosophy.
The reborn No.3 Wende Park in Neihu District, exemplifies the Delta ideal of "Care for the Environment, Energy-saving and Our Green Earth" and is now an environmentally-friendly, energy-saving and carbon-reducing park. More importantly, it has become a place where local residents can relax in comfort. In support of the "Green Family Tour" devised by the Foundation, eco-volunteers now lead families in interactive games at the park on weekends. The games offer an easy way for the general public to learn about saving energy and reducing carbon emissions in their everyday lives. The Delta Foundation also sponsored films about Taiwan's magnificent natural environment to increase the general appreciation for the beauty of nature and for the public to respect nature's biodiversity. The Foundation also sponsored a research about the impact on Taiwan's ecosystem caused by global warming, and hoped that the results could help us to respond and adapt. |
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| Promoting Climate Awareness through the Media |
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Since the Foundation set up the "Low Carbon Lifestyle Blog" in 2007, this Web 2.0 platform has become a primary media channel to report on the latest local and overseas developments in climate change issues as well as international climate talks. By the end of 2010 the blog had achieved more than 1.5 million views. Apart from being awarded the "Best Socially Aware Blog Award", "2010 Taiwan Environmental Hero Award", and "Good Book Award" by different media, in 2010 the blog received the "Xue Xue Award: Public Welfare" from the Xue Xue Institute. We also made use of emerging social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to distribute related information in a timely manner.
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Articles written by various authors in attendance of the 2009 "Road to Copenhagen Media Salon" and authors from the "Low Carbon Lifestyle Blog" were combined to create one book sponsored by the Delta Foundation, Carbon Reduction. This is the first book in the nation written by journalists, environmentalists, and climate scholars regarding climate change. The book covers topics ranging from international negotiations, climate refugees, and the Green New Deal to Taiwan environmental awareness, tree protection movements, green collar jobs, and green folk practices. The book encompasses all developments on global warming at home and abroad. Hope for this country's environment lies within the grasp of these authors. With their non-threatening writing style, Taiwanese audiences are more likely to accept the information and take action to reduce carbon emissions 16.
Delta sponsored its first ever 3D film "To Face the Truth in Taiwan" which addressed the state of Taiwan's environment and recent mud flow disasters and was publicly screened in the Truth Hall at the Taipei Flora Expo. Using Delta's world leading high-end display devices and 3D technology, the film reminded the audience to be aware of climate change, energy conservation, and environmental protection. The 3D film was screened for a half-year and attracted nearly 1.1 million viewers.
The radio program, "Climate Battles in Taiwan," has been broadcast by three radio stations since October 2010. The first season content included topics such as typhoons and heavy rainfall, ocean acidification, global warming and disease, thousand year winters, green buildings, and Cancun climate negotiations, for a total of 13 episodes. On the show, Delta invited scholars or experts from within the company to engage in discussions to help people understand developing trends in green technology. According to radio station feedback, audiences felt the programs were a fresh change and that they had become more aware of global climate change. |
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| Promoting Green Buildings from the Inside Out |
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Buildings account for a significant part of energy consumption, while emitting large amounts of greenhouse gases. Building-related carbon reduction measures are among the most cost-effective, which include insulation, lighting, air-conditioning and hot water supply. Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings will greatly reduce the amount of energy used by mankind. Delta's own experience with its diamond-rated green building in Tainan show us that green buildings can be environmentally-friendly, energy-saving, practical and comfortable, as well as part of its surrounding biodiversity. For this reason, we not only promise that all future Delta buildings will be green buildings but also that buildings we donate will be green buildings. For Min-Chuang elementary school, the school that Delta helped to rebuild in Kaohsiung County's Namasia Township after Typhoon Morakot, is a good example. Our plan is to transform the school into the first sustainable "Net Zero Energy Consumption" school and shows best practices for next generation green campuses located at middle altitude in Taiwan. The campus design was multi-functional with the integration of native culture, environmental protection, eco system conservation, education, and natural disaster prevention. According to Professor Lin Hsien-Te, the lead consultant for this project, the campus can save as much as 65% of energy, equal to the energy savings that the Y. S. Sun Green Building Research Center (a.k.a. the Magic School of Green Technology, Delta's endowment to National Cheng Kung University) 17 can achieve. The Y. S. Sun Green Building Research Center is also the first green architectural education center in a subtropical zone, which is open for public education so that people can have a better idea about the importance and feasibility of energy saving and green house gas reduction, as well as green building technology. Delta Foundation and Common Wealth Magazine held the inauguration ceremony of the research center and the following green building forum to discuss the trends and future of green architecture.
The Foundation continues to cultivate green building professionals. Two "Green Designer" workshops, set up in conjunction with the Foundation and the Department of Architects at National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT), have had more than 90 attendees (including eight of Delta's employees) finished a training course of 15 classes with real-world cases. According to after-class surveys, each class received a higher than 80% rating of satisfaction from the students. Since the second workshop, this training course has been integrated into NTUT's advanced study programs. We hope to set up a certification and brokering scheme in the future that will enable more architects or interior designers to become green collar practitioners. The general public in Taiwan will also be able to take energy consumption and health as well as aesthetics into consideration when choosing a new home or interior.
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| Support for Environmental Research and Talent Personnel DevelopmentCultivation |
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Starting from 2004 to the end of 2010, a total of nearly 40 Master and PhD students have received the Delta/NTIO (The Netherlands Trade & Investment Office) joint environmental scholarship or the Delta/BTCO (the British Trade and Culture Office) joint environmental scholarship. We hope to cultivate environmental protection experts with an international perspective that can offer solutions for global issues and boost the competitiveness of our industries. In October, 2010, for the first time, we held the "Green Power Gathering Forum" at which 13 previous scholarship winners reported their findings to the people of Taiwan at the assembly. This event attracted approximately 100 local and regional Taiwanese government officials, personnel from the British, Dutch, and German embassies, labor groups, students, and people seeking green jobs. The participants not only interacted on site but also engaged in lively discussion online which helped to increase public interest in green collar jobs.
The Foundation has also now partnered with the Sun Yun Suan Foundation for twelve years to send outstanding civil servants overseas to further their education and bring a positive impact to society. To date, several civil servants that benefited from the program are now in public service at the ministerial level. The Delta Foundation also set up school grants for Chinese schools in northern Thailand, and scholarships were offered for overseas compatriots from Thailand to study in Taiwan. Other Foundation efforts to improve the quality of Chinese education in northern Thailand include the training of Chinese teachers, new school buildings, Chinese books and subsidizing the purchase of computer equipment.
In addition to working with schools in mainland China to create internship opportunities at Delta's plants, we also sponsor design competitions and build laboratory centers at schools. For example, starting in 2005 in Wujiang, Delta created a cooperative program to train students to become proficient mechanical experts. By 2010, over 500 mechanical personnel had entered the Delta workforce through this program, taking positions in engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance, and other vital areas. In response to the program, Delta held its first mechanical skills contest in 2010 with the Delta mission "To provide innovative, clean and efficient energy solutions for a better tomorrow" as the contest theme. Nearly 200 students from the Delta mechanical skills program responded and participated enthusiastically in the competition. This not only enriched the students' education in the field, but also provided a lasting impact on their mechanical design abilities. Delta Greentech, moreover, has revealed its plans to cooperate with universities to create an electrical mechanical engineering program, and since 2008 it has worked with the Nanjing Institute of Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, and Xiamen University of Technology to construct the "Delta Automation Laboratory Center." Professors learn about the latest automation products and industrial applications through the entire process. These partnerships not only provide an ideal environment for project design and engineering practice for college students, but also create an excellent platform for professors to carry out research activities. This inevitably lessens the gap between demand for competent labor in the industry and inadequate educational training during university years. In the next couple of years, Delta and Delta Greentech will find more universities with great potential in the automation field, and establish more laboratories to make a lasting contribution to the automation industry in China.
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| Feedback to a Disadvantaged Minority |
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Diabetes is the top fifth cause of death in Taiwan, which suggests that diabetes patients are a group of high concern for society. By periodically measuring blood glucose, the incidence and mortality of diabetes can be reduced. In cooperation with the Taiwan Association of Diabetes Educators (TADE) and Wellcare Health Care Supply, the Delta Foundation donated 1,000 DiaCheck Glucose Meters and 4,000 sets of DiaCheck Glucose Testing Strips and lancets made by Delta Electronics. This helps underprivileged diabetes patients control blood glucose and improve the daily quality of life for patients and their families.
Delta continues to participate in the "Post-Disaster Reconstruction Information Platform" discussions created during the "Taiwan Corporate Sustainability Forum." This provides at-risk individuals or groups in disaster areas with a channel to sell agricultural products to forum members with collective purchasing power. In this way, the disaster-affected can gain economic support and avoid exploitation at the market. This will truly help them towards achieving sustainable business goals.
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