Agreement on low carbon smart buildings signed

An agreement to establish a platform for innovation and entrepreneurship for low carbon smart buildings and eco-homes has been signed between Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool, the Chinese Building Environment Experts, Green Building Windows and Suzhou University of Science and Technology.

The agreement, which was signed by Professor Youmin Xi, executive president at XJTLU, and Lei Zhou, chairman of CBEEs, will see the parties collaborate to provide solutions to help the construction industry in China achieve green buildings standards.

The platform will make full use of XJTLU talent to facilitate the development of innovative projects and integrated technologies, playing a positive role in promoting green, ecological and low carbon development in the process of local urban and rural development.

The agreement was signed in a ceremony that coincided with XJTLU’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

A forum on the internationalisation of urban sustainable development and an exhibition on smart low carbon green building technology were held at the same time on XJTLU’s new South Campus.

The forum was jointly organised by XJTLU’s Research Institute of Urbanisation, Huai'an New-type Urbanisation Development Research Institute, Suzhou City and Environment Research Institute, CBEEs, GBW, and SUST. In addition, it was supported by CCPIT Building Materials Sub-Council, the British Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, International Center of Jiangsu Province Science and Technology Association, and Suzhou Industrial Park Administration Committee.

A number of speakers shared their research and opinions on a variety of topics to do with urban sustainable development.

Dr Yixin Zhang, director of the Research Institute of Urbanisation at XJTLU, spoke about the emergence of extreme rainfall and urban waterlogging problems around the world, especially in China. He presented on the concept of ‘sponge cities’, an idea that has been tested in China to develop cities where almost all rainwater is captured, controlled and reused.

The smart low carbon green building technology exhibition attracted 23 well-known low-carbon enterprises and planning institutions, and covered a wide range of construction technology innovations, including green building materials, sponge city building materials, fresh air conditioning systems and 3D printing.