This article is a direct translation of a piece originally published by the Risk Society and Policy Research Center (RSPRC) at National Taiwan University, a leading institution in understanding and addressing the environmental, technological, and health-related risks facing contemporary society. (Note: the original article is in Traditional Chinese.)
The publication of this article on the RSPRC's platform underscores the importance of DOMI Earth's work in sustainable development and energy poverty. It is a testament to our commitment to driving positive change and reflects recognition by a prestigious research body. The RSPRC's focus on risk society provides crucial context for our initiatives, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions in community regeneration and sustainability.
Energy Prosperity initiatives
Transitioning from energy-consuming lighting to the concept of collective well-being, from governmental collaboration to innovative business-model operations for shared value, and from corporate social responsibility to creating win-win ESG practices, DOMI Earth initiates not just a technological intervention but solutions to the underlying adaptive challenges.
The DOMI Earth team has worked to bring attention to energy poverty in Taiwan for nine years, starting with the replacement of energy-consuming lighting in homes. With a mission to balance social welfare, Taipei City launched the Vulnerable Families Energy Welfare Project in 2015. Over four years, the team visited nearly 3,000 low- to middle-income households in Taipei City, replacing outdated lighting with brighter, energy-efficient LED lights and promoting energy-saving awareness.
Throughout these household visits, we encountered many low-income families using second-hand or donated but outdated electrical appliances. Without the extra capacity to learn and implement energy-saving methods, these families faced high electricity bills directly. Due to poor living conditions, they often dealt with electricity theft, poor natural lighting, and dampness, leading to higher expenses from additional lighting, fans, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers.
This situation is not isolated but a widespread reality of energy poverty affecting many globally, including both rural and urban areas in Taiwan. "Energy poverty" significantly impacts the daily lives and health of economically and socially vulnerable groups, making them susceptible due to inefficient home energy use and lower adaptive capacity to price adjustments. It involves not only a lack of access to electricity but also high energy costs that reduce quality of life, increase living pressures, affect learning and work efficiency, and pose serious threats to family members' physical and mental health.
Over the years, serving nearly 6,000 households across five counties in Taiwan, the DOMI Earth team's path led us to the homes of the Tayal indigenous people in the mountains of Datong, Yilan, for a deep cultural immersion and community understanding. This opened a series of challenges intricately linked to poverty — such as tourist-generated trash, outdated power-consuming appliances, water scarcity, and a lack of future-oriented job options — vital issues for rural regeneration that became increasingly evident through the Power to Change: Energy Prosperity Project.
On the front lines, we felt that many residents had long given up hope for adequate lighting, accustomed to living in dimness or with broken fixtures they couldn't afford to replace. By swapping out energy-saving lights, we not only conducted electricity and safety education but also improved home safety and community interaction by brightening living spaces. Addressing energy poverty is just one angle of intervention; more importantly, it's about fostering resilience among vulnerable families and tribal members — not just swapping LED lights but integrating energy-saving knowledge into their lives, building trust, and tackling long-standing social issues like aging populations, domestic violence, and young motherhood. This process ignites hope for a better future for the tribe and the next generation.
Launching Power to Change for sustainable impact
Starting with government initiatives to find sustainable funding solutions for tackling energy poverty, DOMI Earth launched Power to Change in 2021. The business model — called the Minus Plus model — is based on reducing one thing and adding another. In collaboration with financial institutions in Taiwan, it pushes for consumer paper-bill digitalization, reducing bank printing, mailing, and transportation costs; the savings then support the DOMI team in helping vulnerable households switch to energy-saving lighting and learn the importance of energy saving. This cooperative model creates a win-win: vulnerable families receive corporate support; consumers help by digitalizing bills; banks reduce operational costs by using less paper; and the DOMI team drives environmental and social impact through collaboration.
DOMI Earth, with the support of several banks in Taiwan — including Taishin Bank, DBS Taiwan, King's Town Bank, and Shanghai Bank — and international corporations like IKEA, has demonstrated how innovative collaboration and concrete action can make substantive contributions to solving energy poverty. Taishin Bank initiated the paper-bill model, with DBS Bank and King's Town Bank joining the effort. Taishin Bank now further supports understanding and research in remote tribal areas, allowing the team to deeply comprehend real needs and exert greater change.
Throughout this process, DOMI Earth hopes to inspire not just participation in a predefined plan by bank teams but also issue awareness and reflection on creating larger impacts. Over the years, bank execution teams have become deeply aware of contemporary social issues, evolving from skepticism to belief and seeing their role in contributing to societal and environmental matters. In the journey of sustainable development, it's essential not only to focus on energy and environmental issues but also to care about the people, their opportunities for survival, and the right to pursue their dreams. This transformation is about changing hearts and minds — the true path to sustainability.
Through these service processes, many previously unsolvable problems have been identified, and through collaboration with various enterprises, we've realized that building broader partnerships is key to long-term goals. We especially call on more companies from different fields to collaborate with Power to Change and join DOMI Earth in combating energy poverty, rural regeneration, and climate justice — working together for a world where everyone born on this land can live in a better natural environment and freely pursue their dreams.
From broad collaborations to focused impact: the AGC Transition Institute's role in Shiangcheng's sustainable journey
As we extend our vision of collaborative sustainability, the AGC Transition Institute exemplifies how tailored interventions can profoundly influence corporate strategies. In the heart of Taiwan, Shiangcheng, a well-established lubricant distributor, shows the transformative potential of targeted efforts. Through the AGC Transition Institute's Consensus Workshops, Shiangcheng has taken significant strides in aligning its operations with rigorous ESG standards and embarked on an ambitious path to adopt sustainable practices, aiming to achieve B Corporation status — a significant step towards operational sustainability and industry leadership.
This endeavor showcases the pivotal role of social innovation in business and the effectiveness of consensus workshops in fostering a culture of sustainability. Through the AGC Transition Institute's strategic educational efforts, Shiangcheng has emerged as a model for how companies can drive meaningful environmental and social change.
Frequently asked questions
- How did DOMI Earth's energy-poverty work begin?
- It began in 2015 with Taipei City's Vulnerable Families Energy Welfare Project: over four years the DOMI Earth team visited nearly 3,000 low- to middle-income households, replacing outdated lighting with energy-efficient LEDs and promoting energy-saving awareness.
- What is the Power to Change Minus Plus model?
- Launched in 2021, the Minus Plus model reduces one thing and adds another: banks digitalize paper bills to cut printing, mailing and transport costs, and the savings fund energy-saving lighting and education for vulnerable households — a win for families, consumers, banks, and the environment.
- How many households has DOMI Earth served?
- Over the years the team has served nearly 6,000 households across five counties in Taiwan, including deep work with the Tayal indigenous community in the mountains of Datong, Yilan.
- Which partners support DOMI Earth's energy-poverty work?
- Several Taiwan banks — Taishin Bank, DBS Taiwan, King's Town Bank and Shanghai Bank — plus international corporations such as IKEA. Taishin Bank initiated the paper-bill model and now also supports research in remote tribal areas.