Beijing's Zhongguancun Science and Technology Park, known as China's "Silicon Valley" for both domestic and overseas high-tech enterprises, is set to become more environmentally-friendly with a planned ecological office district (EOD).
According to the construction plans by the city's Haidian District, the EOD will feature low energy consumption, "smart" and environment-friendly buildings.
The construction style of the EOD was similar to that of Silicon Valley, California, concentrating on "green" buildings and using plants and rainwater, said Li Yongqian, general manager of Beijing Century Green City Construction Company.
Rainwater will be collected from the floor and the roofs of the buildings in the EOD and channeled into an artificial lake to improve the environment. The treated rainwater will also be used to wash cars or irrigate flowers.
The pathways connecting the buildings will be raised so as to keep an integrated grassland. The street lights contain photoelectric board, which can absorb solar energy and store the electricity for lighting at night.
The buildings are surfaced with double-layer glass, with cavities to allow flowing air to cool the rooms in the summer. Creeper plants grow outside the glass walls, reducing the radiation volume of the sunshine.
Construction of the first building in the EOD will begin in August and it will be put into use by the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2003)
