Develop green buildings to promote energy saving and emission reduction (International Perspective)
Core reading
Buildings consume a lot of natural resources and energy during construction and operation, and they are one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. In the context of the global response to climate change and the achievement of carbon neutrality goals, more and more countries have formulated policies and plans to promote the development of green buildings and promote energy conservation and emission reduction in the building sector.
Green buildings can save resources, protect the environment, reduce pollution during their entire lifespan, and provide people with healthy, applicable and efficient use of space. It is a high-quality building that can maximize the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. From office buildings to residential areas, from public institutions such as schools to commercial buildings such as shopping centers, green buildings are not only the embodiment of a healthy lifestyle, but also a carrier of new technologies. Some countries make full use of cutting-edge technology to accelerate the development of green buildings and help their countries achieve low-carbon development.
Leading the city’s transition to zero-emission building
By adopting green technology, how much carbon emissions can a 27-story building reduce in a year? The UAE Landmark Group Headquarters Building in Dubai Marina gives the answer: 1,332 tons.
The use of an automatic lighting control system with daylight harvesting function automatically adjusts the indoor lighting according to the illuminance of natural light; the use of a water circulation device with a temperature sensor, the annual water consumption is 40% lower than the International Water Management Union standard; the smart elevator installs an energy regeneration motor, The energy generated by elevator operation can be stored for secondary use…In the office space of about 450,000 square meters, the Landmark Group headquarters building adopts a series of green technologies to improve energy efficiency and minimize carbon footprint, which has become a vigorous development of the UAE. The epitome of green building.
In recent years, the UAE has taken a series of measures to lead the city’s transition to zero-carbon emissions from buildings. In 2007, the UAE issued a law requiring all new buildings to comply with environmental protection and green building standards. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al Khaimah and other cities issued green building policies and regulations to promote the development of green buildings. For example, Abu Dhabi launched the “Pearl” rating system, new buildings must obtain at least level one certification, which is the first mandatory sustainable building rating system in the Middle East. Dubai implements a green building rating system, and new buildings must meet the minimum rating requirements. The Dubai government has also developed a green building website that provides rating information and a list of green material suppliers.
The UAE promises that by 2050, all buildings will achieve net zero carbon emissions. In addition to strengthening the energy efficiency management of new buildings, the UAE is also actively promoting the green renovation of existing buildings. Abu Dhabi began green renovation of 150 government buildings last year, providing smart design and energy-saving water-saving technologies, such as solar rooftop photovoltaic installations, smart meters and thermostats, high-efficiency chillers, etc., and plans to reduce building energy consumption in the next 10 years Reduce 22% and water consumption by 32%. Ras Al Khaimah City plans to complete the green renovation of 3,000 buildings by the end of 2040 and promote the application of rooftop solar installations.
According to the green building market briefing published by the UAE Green Building Council in 2020, the total area of green buildings in the UAE is approximately 64 million square meters. Ali Jasim, chairman of the UAE Green Building Council, said: “There are currently more and more buildings complying with green building regulations, and the UAE is steadily moving towards the goal of achieving net-zero carbon buildings by 2050.”
Green certification promotes the sustainable development of buildings
In the Singapore Academy of Construction, there is a renovated zero-energy building. From a distance, the roof and exterior walls are covered with layers of green plants, full of greenery. When you walk into the building, you will find that the energy-saving design here has its own ingenuity.
Low-emissivity glass is installed on the doors and windows to reduce the solar radiation transmitted through the glass; the lighting system makes full use of energy-saving lamps, photoelectric sensor automatic switching and daylight lighting to reduce energy consumption; the air conditioning system uses advanced coolers, variable speed drives and personalized ventilation equipment , Energy consumption is reduced by about 40%; equipment is controlled through the integrated management system, and energy use can be automatically optimized… As the flagship project of Singapore’s green building master blueprint, this building can save about S$84,000 (about S$1 per year). 4.8 yuan) energy costs.
Singapore’s land and natural resources are limited, and the city is densely populated. Green buildings are essential for sustainable development and are one of the main means for the city to reduce long-term carbon emissions. The Singapore government promised that by 2030, its greenhouse gas emission intensity will be reduced by 36% from the 2005 level. Encouraging the development of environmentally friendly buildings is an important measure.
In 2005, the Singapore Construction and Construction Authority launched the Green Building Mark Certification Scheme to assess the negative impact of buildings on the environment, put forward assessment standards for buildings such as energy conservation, water conservation, environmental protection, and indoor environmental quality. Building is rewarded. As of the end of 2020, 43% of Singapore’s buildings have obtained Green Mark certification. The Singapore government has set a goal to increase the proportion of green buildings to 80% by 2030.
The promulgation of a series of laws, regulations and incentives has prompted Singapore to transition to a more sustainable and low-carbon environment. In 2006, the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore launched the green building master blueprint to promote the construction industry to move closer to the new green building standards through a combination of laws, regulations and incentive measures. From encouraging the greening of new buildings to bringing existing buildings into the scope of green environmental protection, the master blueprint for green buildings is constantly updated. With the development of new technologies, Singapore has proposed ultra-low energy consumption plans to encourage the use of the most advanced energy-saving building solutions, such as the Internet of Things smart energy management system, big data analysis and advanced sensors.
Energy conservation in school buildings will become “living teaching materials” for environmental protection education
From September 2019 to August 2020, Mizunami North Middle School in Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture, Japan conducted a high-profile test and finally found that the school’s 8,090 square meters school building reached zero emission standards, becoming the number one in Japan. A zero-emission primary and secondary school campus.
Adopt natural ventilation, the building has high heat insulation, high airtightness, and maintain an appropriate indoor temperature; use natural daylight and geothermal, and be equipped with efficient lighting and air conditioning systems; use solar energy, wind power, etc. to generate electricity to increase the proportion of renewable energy; Energy management using environmental monitors… The school building uses a series of clean and digital technologies and has become an important experiment in Japan’s zero-emission building.
In 2016, the Japanese government proposed to achieve the goal of achieving zero-emission buildings in half of new buildings by 2030. Data show that in 2019, the carbon emissions of Japanese residential buildings, office buildings and other buildings were 352 million tons, accounting for 34.4% of Japan’s domestic carbon emissions, second only to the industrial sector. Japanese public opinion believes that in order to achieve the 2050 carbon neutral target, Japan needs to take measures to reduce carbon emissions from buildings. In Japan’s green growth strategy announced at the end of 2020, residential buildings are among the 14 key areas for promoting greenhouse gas emission reduction.
On June 3, Japan put forward the “Responsibility Plan for Housing and Buildings to Realize a Decarbonized Society”, stipulating that Japanese national and local governments should install solar power generation equipment when constructing schools, cultural facilities, government buildings and other public buildings. The Japanese government The standards for solar power generation equipment will also be unified. On June 9, the Japanese government announced that by 2030, more than 100 “pioneer regions” across the country will achieve carbon neutrality, and public facilities and other buildings across the country will be equipped with solar panels.
At present, the Japanese government has begun to study the decarbonization of public primary and secondary schools. Measures include the use of high-performance insulation materials on the roof and external walls of the school buildings, the use of double-glazed windows, the use of natural light as much as possible, and the equipment with human body sensing. Sensor LED lights, effective use of solar energy, etc. Japan’s “Yomiuri Shimbun” stated that for about 28,500 public primary and secondary schools nationwide, energy conservation in school buildings will become a “living teaching material” for environmental education for students. If energy-saving school buildings are promoted everywhere, the environmental awareness of Japanese residents will also increase.
(Our newspaper Cairo, Bangkok, Tokyo July 12th)
Our correspondent in Egypt Shen Xiaoxiao Our correspondent in Thailand Liu Hui Our correspondent in Japan Liu Junguo
.