Clean energies cut emissions in Olympic Village

A corner of the Olympic Village

(BEIJING, February 28) -- The Beijing Olympic Village, expected to accommodate 17,200 athletes and officials from around the world, will become an example in the use of solar, recycled water and other clean energies capable of cutting pollutant emissions.

Calculations show that during the upcoming Olympic Games, renewable energies will amount to 7.89 million kilowatt hours, equivalent to 3,077 tons of standard coal, meaning an emissions cut of 8,000 tons of carbon dioxide. With new applications after the Games, the Village is capable of reducing emissions of 67,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

A corner of the Olympic Village

The energies to be retrieved from the recycled water for winter heating can be converted into 3,000 tons of standard coal, about 82 percent of the energy consumption for winter heating in the Village. It can be converted into 2.25 million cubic meters of natural gas, which equals a reduction of emissions of 7,200 tons of carbon dioxide, 123 tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, 4 tons of carbon monoxide and 33 tons of dust.

The cooling capacity of the thermo-transfer system can save energy by 40 percent compared with conventional air-conditioning systems. It does not produce noise or smoke, and can minimize the heat island effect to zero.

The 6,000 sq m solar heating system on the "roof garden" of the Village will supply bath water for the 17,200 athletes at a much larger scale than previous Olympic Games. After the Games, the hot water system will cater to the demands of 2,000 households and can save 5 million kilowatts of electricity every year.

In addition to renewable solar energy and recycled water, the new technologies to be used in the Village include the application of rain water, "green construction materials," ecological landscaping, intelligent household appliances, digital TV, "Green lighting," and accessible facilities, making the Village a "green habitable area" of the international standard.

The UNEP gave high marks also to Beijing's efforts in sewage and rubbish treatment and water source protection. Lauding them as big achievements, the organization said Beijing is capable of honoring its Olympic bid pledges.