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First Eco-City Planned for China |
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Written by Gordon Feller
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Thursday, 04 January 2007 |
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This project brings together a wide variety of sustainable technologies, such as renewable energy, and biological treatment systems for sewage and clean vehicles.
China is building the world’s first eco-city, Dongtan, north of the city of Shanghai.
When completed, Dongtan will offer high quality living and working conditions for its 500,000 inhabitants, while having a minimal ‘ecological footprint.’ The project brings together a wide variety of sustainable technologies, such as renewable energy, and biological treatment systems for sewage and clean vehicles.
Dongtan is, to say the least, a highly ambitious project. To some it might even seem utopian. Nevertheless, if this vision of a zero-emission sustainable city is successfully realized, it will be a compelling model for sustainable urban development worldwide.
China is the world’s most populous country, with a fast growing economy and rapid urbanization. China’s urban population is expected to reach 1.1 billion by 2050. By then nearly half of China’s current population will have moved from rural to urban areas. This process, however, is already having detrimental effects on the urban living environment: 16 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in China. The benefits of China’s record economic growth could effectively be undone by the ever-growing costs of resource depletion, pollution and damage to human health.
Growing environmental concerns have boosted political support in China for sustainable urban development. The Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation (SIIC) has therefore initiated a project to build the world’s first eco-city. If successful, the concepts incorporated in this city’s design can be used in the development of other sustainable cities in China and the rest of the world.
The eco-city of Dongtan will be built in several phases, during which it will grow from 30,000 inhabitants in 2010 to 500,000 in 2040. It will consist of pedestrian-friendly villages, each with their own housing, working, and service infrastructure. Priority projects for phase one (2005-2010) include:
• Capturing and purifying water.
• Waste management recycling.
• Reducing landfills that damage the environment.
• Creating combined heat and power systems, linked to the use of renewables.
Commissioned by the SIIC, the ARUP global consultancy firm has developed a master plan for Dongtan. It will be realized in several stages over the coming 30 to 40 years. The master plan reflects the SIIC’s ambitious vision that Dongtan should be a green city in appearance and in the way it functions, while providing 21st century living conditions for up to 500,000 people.
These are the main features of the master plan:
• Low-rise development of mixed-use apartment buildings, combining work opportunities, as well as residential and leisure functions, which will minimize commuting.
All buildings will have maximum energy efficiency.
• Dongtan’s energy needs will be met by solar panels on buildings, wind turbines and burning of biomass.
• Cars, buses, trams and boats used within the city will be powered by electric motors or hydrogen fuel cells.
• It will take no more than seven minutes to walk from any part of the city to a bus or tram stop.
• Eco-industry (waste management, wind and solar technology) will be a major component of Dongtan’s economy.
Sophisticated organic farming techniques linked to the waste and sewage recycling system are designed to create a sustainable cycle of local food production. The food will be processed on the island and then distributed to the shops and restaurants in Dongtan.
Dongtan is conceptualized as a zero waste city: most, if not all, of Dongtan’s solid waste will be recycled and remanufactured. Organic waste will be composted and used to fertilize local farmland.
Green rooftops play an important part in meeting Dongtan’s water demand: they will collect, filter and store rain water.
Sewage will be cleaned using biological treatment systems that can also capture the nutrients in the waste water.
Dongtan will be a green city, with plenty green spaces and a rich biodiversity.
The first phase of developing Dongtan will be completed in 2010. It comprises the building of three pedestrian villages, in which some 30,000 people can live and work. Dongtan will be one of the main features of the World Expo hosted by Shanghai in 2010. The last developing phase of Dongtan should be completed by 2040. It will then have 500,000 inhabitants. LDT
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