Green Ambitions and The Eco-Cities of China
November 1, 2009 by Laurene Williams
China is to be hailed for recognizing that its 1.3 billion inhabitants have the biggest carbon footprint on the planet. The country bested America back in 2007 as the #1 polluter (21.5% to 20.2%) and the largest producer of coal. Chinese city planners, however, are embracing foreign firms who've swooped in with master plans to revamp their old megacities, making them more efficient, more livable and more sustainable. Dongtan, Shenyang, Huangbaiyu and the list goes on...
In fact everyone has realized that by showcasing a shiny new eco-city in China, the rest of the world, with its less dense populations, will have no more excuses.
But as a poster child for dramatic change, China has had mixed results. Many of the highly touted, eco-city projects have lagged, sagged or been scrapped altogether. The premise of a carbon neutral city projected in detailed, illustrative 3-D schematics that look like something out of a graphics novel has been alluring. In fact so much visionary thinking and extraordinary creativity has made the idea of these dream cities very hard to turn down. But after getting sold on the packaging and imagery of ambition, the challenges of integrating modernized cities with aging populations has proved, in many cases, to be overwhelming. (Project: Dongtan, see below)
Critics have spun more than enough phrases to explain the demise of China's mega projects. The dreamy "green" catch-words such as "self-sustainable", "carbon neutral", "reusable", "recycled", "waste management", "passive solar", "zero energy building principles" and "green transport", quickly gave way to "unorganized", "undoable", "unrealistic", "impossible", "Chinese urban gold rush" and "greed". (Project: Huangbaiyu, see below)
Nonetheless, in the wake of the failures, architects, engineers and city planners, continue to rally in order to turn utopian dreams into livable spaces. New projects in Guangzhou and Shenyang with collaborative multinational companies such as IBM are underway and promise to reach their goals, setting the bar without compromise. The goals are no less lofty than their predecessors' and are all the more appealing as the world watches and waits for them to make happen on earth what no man has made happen before.
Overview of China's Megaprojects
Project: Dongtan
Overview: The world's first eco-city; a brand new development; an island three-quarters the size of ManhattanYear Designed: Contracted in August 2005Projected Completion: First phase to house 30,000; completed by 2010 for the Shanghai Expo; 500,000 residents by 2030-40The Players: Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation commissioned Arup, the British engineering and design giantProjected Cost: $1.3 billionThe Green Goals: Zero-carbon footprint, low car-usage, complete self-sufficiency in water and energyPublicity: Touted in The New York Times and hailed by countless journalists in countless news articles across the globeDate Abandoned: Permits lapsed; put on hold in 2008The Results: Zero buildings, zero inhabitants, zero emissionsThe Lesson: It's not as easy as it looks; the best intentions can be a hard saleUpdate: "Project delayed but not dead". Treehugger sip it
Project: Huangbaiyu
Overview: A rural village in southeast China is slated to be a model for energy-conscious design; new developmentYear Designed: Unveiled in May 2007Projected Completion: First phase of 400 houses by 2010; housing plans for 400 million by 2020The Players: U.S. Architect William McDonough, Tonghi University in Shanghai, the Benxi Design Institute, China-U.S. Center for Sustainable DevelopmentThe Green Goals: sustainable, solar-powered bungalowsOddities: Feng Shui compliance meant no south-facing houses as designed, reducing passive solar energy; garages included though no villagers can afford carsThe Results: 42 suburban-style tract homes built; reportedly no volunteers to move in; the homes allegedly have no heat, electricity or running water; one has solar power; walls are reportedly cracking; yards too small to raise farm animalsThe Lesson: Cultural cross wires can halt any enterprise
Project: Baoding
Overview: Ancient city of nearly one million in Hebei province to become the "City of Solar Energy"Year Designed: 2007Projected Completion: Three to five yearsThe Players: Mayor Yu Qun of Baoding, Baoding National Development and Reform CommissionThe Green Goals: Reconstruction of city infrastructure to install solar lamps, solar lighting, solar powered water and central heating systemsCurrent Status: Progress continuesThe Results: World's first "carbon positive" city; China's fastest growing producer of solar, wind and biomass energy equipment manufacturers in China; houses 200 renewable energy companiesThe Lesson: Cultural insiders can realize the dream
Project: Guangzhou
Overview: Revamp a portion of the third largest city in China, population 10 million; slated to be a new mega projectYear Designed: Announced in September 2009Projected Completion: In developmentThe Players: U.S. firm Heller ManusThe Green Goals: Improve sustainability; integrate public transit with pedestrian movement; reduce carsThe Results: In developmentThe Lesson: Keep sight of the utopian goal and try again to make it work
Project: Shenyang
Overview: Shenyang, population 7.7 million, capital of Liaoning province in Northeast China, to be retrofitted as a "smart" eco-cityYear Designed: Announced in September 2009Projected Completion: In developmentThe Players: IBM, the City of Shenyang, China's Northeastern University; upcoming think tank dubbed the "Collaboratory" where IBM researchers will pair and collaborate with government, university and commercial membersThe Green Goals: Improve sustainability, reduce CO2 emissions; apply water management solutionsThe Results: In developmentThe Lesson: Deliberate the utopian goal with critical members on board
Project: Pearl River Tower
Overview: A mega skyscraper slated to be 71 floors and 310 meters (1,017 feet) tall; located in Guangzhou, China; most energy efficient skyscraper in the world; occupied by the China National Tobacco CorporationYear Designed: 2005Projected Completion: Original target date August 2009; revised target, 2010The Players: US firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (Sears Tower, 1 World Trade Center); China National Tobacco CorporationThe Green Goals: Wind turbines, solar power, humidity and rainwater collectors; energy surplusCurrent Status: Construction underwayThe Results: Net-zero energy goal unlikely; expected to consume 60% less energy than comparable structuresThe Lesson: Theoretically, big business can move mountains (and build them too)NewsSip
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