Home First Emission Free Building in China in Ningbo
Monday, October 6, 2008 4:34
h/t to Alex Pasternack at Treehugger for highlighting China’s First Zero-Emissions Building: Ningbo’s Sustainable Energy Technology Center .
Alongside an array of photovoltaic cells around the building (with batteries that can store two weeks’ worth of electricity), the building boasts geothermal energy, which is used to cool and heat the floor slabs. A double skin of glass — with screen printing of the area’s historical buildings — offers reduced solar radiation. Materials are locally sourced, and there’s a gray water and rainwater recycling system. A large rooftop opening brings natural light to all floors of the building simultaneously creating a flue effect to allow efficient natural ventilation.
According to Bologna-based Mario Cucinella Architects, who is known for its sustainable focus, the building is designed so that it’s electrical energy needs for cooling are only 7-8 kWhr /m2 a year.
The 1,300 square meter building hosts a visitors center, research laboratories and classrooms for masters courses. Sitting in a large meadow alongside a stream that runs through the campus, its design is inspired by Chinese lanterns and traditional wooden screens.
In china, where there are fewer than 20 LEED certified architects, and fewer LEED certified buildings, projects like these are few and far between.
