Project in Nanhexia area is a role model of low-carbon transformation

2022-02-18 15:26:00

Built on the site of an abandoned factory in the old district of Nanhexia in Yangzhou City, No. 98 is a signature project of the city’s urban renewal and low-carbon transformation, also recognized by the Housing and Urban-Rural Development Department of Jiangsu Province to showcase the energy-saving practices.

The renovation has maintained the traditional Yangzhou building style and courtyard design while incorporating eco-friendly technologies, improving the quality of life and blazing a trail for building residential developments sustainably.

The project includes 11 buildings with a total land area of 3,906 square meters and floor area of 2,871 square meters. All buildings here have been installed with solar hot water systems on the roof, with the largest solar panel of 10 square meters on the No. 3 building. The solar panels on the No. 3 and No. 11 buildings generate enough electricity for outdoor lighting in the area.

“Even if it rains continuously for a week, the system provides sufficient power for lighting for the roads," said a project manager.

All indoor spaces have also switched to LED lights, which use much less energy to produce same light output as other alternatives. For example, a 9-10W LED bulb offers the brightness about three times that of ordinary lights. In the project, there are solar chargers for electronic devices too.

Three of the 11 buildings have employed the ground source heat pumps, which save over 40% of energy compared with air source types and over 70% compared with electric heating.

The rainwater capture system provides water supply to gardening, landscapes and spraying operations. The light tubes can transmit natural light for the purpose of illumination by using kinds of devices to spread the light indoors.

The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) of the United States supported the project in 2012, which then won the LEED Platinum Certification for homes by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

According to the ISC’s staffers in China, Yangzhou was chosen for the renewal for its achievements in the conservation of the old city zone. In the urbanization, Yangzhou has tried to retain its local features and charm in pursuing development.