Copenhagen is one of the world's leading cities that drive innovative green growth. The capital of Denmark drives economic development while enhancing the environment and quality of life of its residents.
The Pavilion of Denmark is open to the public at the 9th International Conference on Green and Energy-Efficient Building & New Technologies and Products Expo in Beijing. What can China learn from Denmark?
The City of Copenhagen is well on its way to becoming the first carbon neutral capital in the world by 2025.
Demonstrating its many sustainable initiatives, the country's Copenhagen Solutions exhibit offers inspiration to policymakers, developers and architects worldwide. With its extensive and efficient district heating network, bridges only for cyclists and pedestrians, and an ambitious climate action plan, Copenhagen is a good place to look for inspiration when it comes to creating greener buildings and cities.
Qiu Baoxing, Vice Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said at the pavilion's opening ceremony that Copenhagen has provided a roadmap for Chinese cities to follow in the journey to a low carbon future.
"Denmark drives economic development at the same time as enhancing the environment and quality of life for its residents. The percentage of alternative energy used in Denmark is the highest around the world. Take Copenhagen as an example. It is an ancient city as well as a green and low carbon city. The renovation of old buildings and the construction of new ones follow the low carbon, environmentally friendly way. This is a successful case that encourages and inspires Chinese cities."
Several Danish companies in the architecture and building sector have been invited to display their solutions, technologies and products. A model showing Nanjing's lighthouse program has attracted many visitors. It is a 3,500-square-meter house inspired by Copenhagen's famous low carbon green lighthouse.
Zhang Penghao, the chief marketing manager of the sustainability section at COWI Consulting Company who designed the program, tells us about the building's environmentally friendly features.
"Our idea is to build an energy-saving exhibition center with less than 41 kilowatt hours per square meter per year. What's more, we want it to be comfortable. We have optimized the fa?ade of the building to get more natural light. People can enjoy the natural light but do not feel hot, so it won't increase the energy consumption of the building. We also control the temperature and moisture inside the building, so that people can work in a comfortable environment."
COWI consulting company now is involved in several sustainability projects, which are centered on making buildings greener, more attractive and energy efficient.
Rockwool is a Danish company that produces energy efficient building material��stone wool. Huang Huali, the company's marketing manager, tells us how this material is used in modern architecture.
"Stone wool is inorganic mineral, so it's fireproof when it's used for the roof, ceiling and walls. It's the perfect combination of fire safety, acoustics, durability and sustainability. Now stone wool is widely used in architecture, and we have many cooperation projects in China."
Danish Energy Management has been working on a number of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects for 10 years in collaboration with the Chinese government. Chief Consultant Pia Yasuko Rask says she sees a huge potential market for green and energy efficient building in China, despite several challenges that must be overcome.
"I found that finance is an issue and market structure as well. To spend the money on building an energy efficient building, it kind of demands that someone stays there and cares about the utility of the buildings. But now people don't care about these because they rent it out or sell it. But I think it's changing. If we can come up with a better way to finance [projects], it will be more successful."
All the Danish companies present in the exhibition has reached a consensus that China can and should build green and energy efficient buildings. As a result, many such programs are now under way.
The exhibition is open to the public from April 1st to April 3rd.
