Chinese whispers say energy efficiency

The important message of energy efficiency is being exported to China by Robinson Design Group, the multi disciplinary building and design practice.

China's ongoing recognition of the importance of energy efficiency, both for its own benefit and to be seen as being part of the modern world, has led to an exchange of professional expertise and to a number of significant joint projects with Robinson Jizhun Fangzhong Architecture Design Limited of Chengdu [Robinson JZFZ].

The company, still less than 2 years old, is already involved in giving seminars about how to design green and intelligent buildings, how to develop energy efficiency, sustainability and the regeneration of existing buildings.

These are relatively new concepts to the Chinese business and economic community.

Robinson JZFZ has been asked to run workshops in Chongqing and Chengdu in collaboration with British Expertise and UKTI [UK Trade and Investment].

These will run prior to Robinson JZFZ forming a working party with Chinese Local Government to assess just how energy efficiency methods and sustainability at City level can be achieved, and how the Government, designers and developers can all work together to produce maximum efficiency.

The ethos of energy efficiency and sustainability has already been put into practice in the popular and tropical resort of Hainan Island, off the southern coast of China.

At Sanya, on the island's southern tip, against a backdrop of white sand beaches and the clear blue waters of the South China Sea, Robinson JZFZ is currently working on a unique project.

A new model village will be built at Sanya around a model farm to include eco and agro tourism along with an agricultural research station.

This is located on China's oldest co-operative farm commune, which has been visited by every Leader of the Chinese Government since its founding in 1951.

It is also the largest farm commune still in existence in China.

Keith Linch, Director of Robinson JZFZ says: "Our plan may well be viewed as a new model village strategy for China, as we are designing in a sustainable environment as part of the economic growth plan".

"This project is presently going through the urban planning and master plan stage, and the developer wants to employ sustainable methods of building suitable to the local life style".

The developer is also looking at the wider area surrounding the development site which covers in excess of 1976 acres approximately.

The brief given to the 18 strong Robinson Joint Venture team is to provide an economically viable master plan that will compliment and further enhance the natural environment, whilst at the same time forming a sustainable catalyst for the economic and population growth of the area.

"We feel this is surely a first for one of the Provinces of China, and a real indication that the western preoccupation with energy efficiency in its widest sense is gradually being understood and acted upon over here," adds Keith Linch.

China is one of the world's largest emitter of human-generated greenhouse gases, second only to the USA.

At a recent meeting environment ministers from the Group of Eight [G8] in Germany industrialized nations and five key developing countries, heard the Chinese Minister for the environment declare his country aims to increase its use of renewable energy sources and improve green efficiency.

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