China works to promote energy conservation, carbon reduction in construction industry

Construction of Futuristic Village Demonstrates China’s Commitment to Sustainable Development Goals

At the construction site of a futuristic village demonstration project in Huangpu district, Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong province, prefabricated components of house structures were hoisted into place, and soon, more than 200 green, low-carbon and livable residence buildings would rise from the ground.

Utilizing Natural Lighting and Energy-Efficient Structures

On one hand, the design of these residence buildings fully utilizes natural lighting and energy-efficient structures. The north- and south-facing windows adopt energy-saving glazing with high light transmittance and low heat transfer coefficients. Reasonably designed overhanging eaves and shading curtains can effectively reduce solar radiation. The combination of a sloped roof and a flat roof, coupled with a thickened indoor insulation layer, can effectively reduce indoor heat loss.

Adopting a PEDF Solution for Energy Generation

On the other hand, a PEDF (photovoltaic, energy storage, direct current, flexibility) solution is adopted, where solar energy generated on the rooftops is stored and can be flexibly utilized. “With the PEDF system, a 300-square-meter five-bedroom house can generate an average of 870 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month, achieving self-sufficiency when there is sufficient sunlight,” said Fan Zesen, deputy general manager of China Construction Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd.

Intelligent Construction Technologies for Efficiency and Environmental Impact Reduction

According to Fan, the project employs intelligent construction technologies, with 80 percent of the work completed in smart factories, thereby improving construction efficiency while reducing the environmental impact of on-site construction activities.

China’s Efforts in Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction

The construction sector is one of the major energy consumers and carbon emitters. In recent years, China has been continuously improving the energy efficiency and carbon reduction levels of new buildings, promoting energy efficiency and carbon reduction in the construction sector from the source.

As for existing buildings, efforts have been made to promote energy-saving and carbon reduction through renovation and upgrades. In recent years, China has renovated and upgraded a cumulative area of over 2.4 billion square meters.

Currently, the main sources of heating for buildings in China include combined heat and power plants, and regional coal-fired or gas-fired boiler rooms, which generate a significant amount of carbon dioxide emissions. To address this, China plans to further increase the utilization of photovoltaic systems, residual heat, and geothermal energy, to optimize the energy mix for buildings.

Promoting Low-Carbon Energy Transformation in Rural Areas

“I have 59 photovoltaic panels on the roof, which not only provide insulation and warmth but also earn me extra income through power generation,” said Xu, a resident in Kefang village, Tongchuan, northwest China’s Shaanxi province.

In 2023, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., a leading enterprise in the solar photovoltaic industry in China, started building Kefang village into a “zero-carbon” village powered by solar energy.

The project aims to build a distributed photovoltaic power system with a capacity of 6 megawatts, which generates around 7.91 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The green energy produced will offset the village’s daily carbon emissions.

Efforts to promote low-carbon energy transformation for rural construction and facilities are actively underway across various regions in China.

“According to statistics, China has the potential to install a total of over 1.9 billion kilowatts of photovoltaic capacity on the rooftops of rural buildings and facilities. In the future, over 80 percent of rural areas can essentially rely solely on building-integrated photovoltaic power generation and nearby hydropower to meet their energy needs for production and daily life,” said Jiang Yi, director of the Building Energy Conservation Research Center at Tsinghua University.

Energy-Efficiency Retrofits for Existing Buildings

In Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, a five-star hotel has installed two rows of high-efficiency air source heat pumps on its rooftop terrace. These heat pumps are connected to a smart energy and carbon management platform, which allows for remote setting of operating parameters and intelligent start-stop based on energy demand.

“The system will automatically adjust the load based on changes in outdoor temperature, energy usage habits, and other factors, ensuring a relatively constant supply of water at desired temperature and heating, which meets the heating and hot water needs of rooms, swimming pools, and other facilities, while preventing energy waste,” said an executive with ENN Group, which installed the air source heat pumps for the hotel.

After the hotel’s energy-efficiency retrofit, the overall efficiency of its heating and hot water systems has improved by approximately 30 percent, reducing related operation and maintenance costs by around 10 percent, the executive said.

Conclusion

China’s commitment to sustainable development goals is evident in its efforts to improve energy efficiency, promote low-carbon energy transformation, and retrofit existing buildings. By utilizing innovative technologies and renewable energy sources, China is making significant progress towards achieving a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
• SDG 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated, and sustainable human settlement planning and management.
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for SDG 7.2: Share of renewable energy in the total energy consumption.
• Indicator for SDG 9.4: Proportion of industries using sustainable practices and environmental-friendly technologies.
• Indicator for SDG 11.3: Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure for urban planning and management that operates regularly and democratically.
• Indicator for SDG 13.2: Number of countries that have integrated climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Note: The indicators mentioned in the table are examples and may not be the only indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: en.people.cn

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