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Construction experts look to build green future
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LEADING experts on green technology shared their thoughts and aspirations on the development of green buildings and cities at the 2016 Green City and Sustainable Development Forum, held in Shanghai on Monday.
Hosted by the Shanghai Green Building Council and the US Consulate General Shanghai, the forum introduced innovative practices in green community building and explored their implications for the China market.
“As the two biggest economies in the world, the US and China have a shared responsibility to address the challenges of climate change. Greater use of green building technologies and sustainable development will help meet those challenges,” said Hanscom Smith, consul general of the American Consulate General in Shanghai, in addressing the forum. He added that American services and technologies are global leaders in the field and there have been several examples of American and Chinese expertise coming together in pioneering green buildings here in China.
In his keynote speech, Pei Xiao, deputy director of the Shanghai Housing and Urban-Rural Construction and Management Commission, briefed the audience on the achievements and prospects of green development in Shanghai.
According to Pei, a joint committee led by deputy mayor Jiang Zhuoqing is now responsible for creating and implementing policies regarding energy saving in buildings.
A three-year action plan (2014-2016) clearly identified major goals and priorities in green building development.
Clear guidelines have also been drawn up regarding the assessment of energy-saving efficiency in buildings. Since 2014, all new buildings in Shanghai have to meet relevant green standards.
As the supply of new construction land in the city is now subject to strict controls, urban renovation will likely provide a major impetus to green development.
Meanwhile, given rising standards of living and the demand for higher quality of life, future buildings will become more “people-centric,” and people will pay more attention to green standards, say experts.
In a presentation titled “LEED for Cities — New Platform toward Green and Smart City,” Nellie Cheng explained how LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) can help develop more sustainable, healthy buildings and communities by benchmarking how they are planned, developed and measured against global standards.
Conceived with the vision that buildings and communities can regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation, this assessment regime involves the weighing of 250 indicators related to energy, water, waste, transportation and human experience (i.e. prosperity, equitability, education, and health and safety).
Integrating a range of rating systems, standards, protocols and guidelines, this simple metric can help urban planners and residents track and improve their performance across a range of important variables.
Reconnected to nature
Reporting their green achievements not only shows the city’s commitment to sustainable development, but also provides opportunities for cities all over the world to compare and compete so as to become more livable, resilient, and smart.
In his presentation, Hasan A. Syed, principal and design director of Gensler, observed that people are frequently disconnected from their natural surroundings. It is critical to seek new sustainable models that preserve our cultural heritage, social fabric, environmental well-being, as well as economic prosperity.
Syed identified four trends driving future urban design: Communities as ecosystems, urban connection to nature, modernization and preservation, and technological innovation.
He pointed out that the typical urbanization pattern in China has been to wipe an area clean and start over with new buildings whose scale and character ignore the local context.
In Shanghai, the traditional lilong (lane houses) have been particularly affected. Hence the need for a new development model to retain traditional spaces and foster new aspirations. He explained how some of these aspirations are expressed in projects he’s been involved with, such as the Pujiang International Center and the Shanghai Tower.
In designing the Shanghai Tower, for instance, it was found that a 120 degree spiral provided the optimal rotation and minimized wind loads by 24 percent, resulting in a lighter structure that saved US$58 million in structural material costs.
The skyscraper had also been developed with a view to its own community. Inside the building, there are shrubs, greenery and rocks in 21 sky gardens that offer a tranquil place to meet people and relax.
Zhang Hong, deputy director of the Shanghai Lingang Area Development Administration, explained how she is leading her team to turn Lingang into a national level sponge city demonstration zone, with its emphasis on mixed blocks, green transport, and energy savings.
This forum is one of a series of events marking World Cities Day on October 31.
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