Facing Environmental Issues

Facing Environmental Issues

"China's Eco-cities: Sustainable urban living in Tianjin"

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120503-sustainable-cities-on-the-rise

Watch the Video here:
http://www.economist.com/blogs/analects/2014/04/eco-cities-china?zid=313&ah=fe2aac0b11adef572d67aed9273b6e55

The article, "China's Eco-Cities: Sustainable Urban Living in Tianjin," is an article that talks about China's endeavor to face the environmental issues that have plagued their country. China realizes that its population continues to grow and that it will need to provided housing, infrastructure, water, food, and jobs to all of these individuals while combating the rising pollution and social issues. The country's government has already made moves to begin this process by forcing the largest polluters to move out of the largest cities so that one area will not be so heavily polluted.

China has also begun the construction of what are called "eco-cities." They have created large model blue-prints of what their eco-cities will look like and involve as well. China has begun construction in an area called Tianjin with the Singaporean government. This city will house 350,000 people and involve a low-carbon, green environment. This project is meant to be finished by 2020 and is still under construction. China hopes that when this city is completed, it will provide sustainable blueprints for other countries around the world who would like to become more environmentally friendly.

What is most interesting about this project, is that China chose Tianjin. Tianjin is a barren wasteland. It was the site where industries dumped their toxic waste, is barren and is next to one of the world's most polluted seas. The choice was important, however. China has basically ruined the area and made it uninhabitable. Therefore, they want to prove to the world that the damage can be undone. That any area can be utilized and made green and provide a safe, healthy living environment for the future. It is important to China to prove that any location can be cleaned up to become healthy. They succeeded in the clean-up part. It took 3 years, but it occurred.

Within the incomplete city, there are all kinds of sustainable energy resources. There are solar-energy panels, wind turbines, solar-powered street lights, 1/5 of the energy will be emission-free, ground-source heat pumps will be used, and there are fragrant trees everywhere. The buildings utilize sound and motion sensitive lighting, there are smart controls, pneumatic municipal waste collection systems, and General Motors will test their new eco-friendly vehicles there.

60 families moved in in March to begin the testing of the locations. Buildings involve water-saving sanitary fittings, insulated walls and double-glazed windows, south facing orientation to optimize heat, and there are green spaces everywhere . Every type of greenery has a purpose as well. There are reed beds that attract birds and help clean water. There are bike paths and walking paths everywhere so people will be more inclined to actually use other transportation methods then driving. Companies are moving in quickly too and all are using sustainable energy and processes to function in such an eco-friendly city. The only issue the city faces at this moment is water provision, but this is an issue they are working on. Overall, China has made a huge advancement in becoming more environmentally friendly and stopping the pollution that is in abundance. Let us hope that soon all countries will follow.