Technologies pave way to energy-efficient buildings

Seven Chinese construction projects have been selected as energy-efficient examples by news site China Economic Net in Beijing on Oct 16 as the nation seeks ways to keep economic growth while spending fewer natural resources.

Technology has played a crucial role in the design and the construction process of the award-wining programs which focus on saving the energy and water as well as improving the environment.

Organizers hope the event could set examples in different fields and inspire others.

The extension project of Net Zero Energy Building was one of the seven models chosen by the website. The office building of Institute of Building Environment and Energy showcased 28 technology methods aiming to take down emission and control key attributors inside the building such as the temperature and humidity.

By using these technologies, the energy consumption for cooling system of the building in summer has been reduced by 50 percent.

Alternative energy has also been used as heating resources in winter rather than traditional powers.

"Innovation of the technology will be the key to creating an energy-saving society. The application of the technology has to be standardized to its maximum limit," said Meng Qinglin, chief of the Building Environment and Energy Laboratory SCUT at South China University of Technology.

Buildings, industries and transportation are the top three sectors that consume most energy, with buildings responsible for nearly half of energy consumption and gas emissions in China.

In 2009, China promised to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 40 to 45 percent per GDP unit by 2020 compared with the levels in 2005.

The energy-efficient buildings have been working on this path since China started experiencing high air pollution and severe environmental threats.