Wu Deng

Barriers and policy recommendations for developing green buildings from local government perspective: a case study of Ningbo China

ABSTRACT This paper is based on an ongoing research project funded by the World Bank GEF Program, which aims to identify the key barriers to green building development in Ningbo China and suggest policy improvements to the local government. China is undergoing the largest scale of urbanization in history and at an unprecedented pace. The construction and operation of buildings have inevitably brought severe pressures on resource conservation and environmental protection. China has initiated policies, strategies and financial incentive schemes at national level to address these issues. It is also seen that there is a growing interest in recent years at local government level in promoting green buildings. This paper will take a look at the current national policies and targets and then discuss the motivations and opportunities of developing green buildings from a perspective of local governments. Questionnaire surveys and interviews with relevant stakeholders have been conducted in the case study city. Based on the surveys and interviews, the key barriers to developing green buildings in the case study city have been identified, and recommendations for policy change are proposed.

Socialist architecture in Mao's model village: a case study of Qinyong Village in Ningbo

In the context of current drives for the renewal and conservation of rural Chinese villages, socialist villages developed under Mao Zedongs tenure as Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (1949–1976) seem have been marginalised. This research selects one of Maos model villages, Qinyong in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, as a case study. Through historical and on-site research, this article articulates and analyses the transformation of the village landscape from the early socialist period to the latest renovation in 2014. Focussing in particular on the transformation of the villages housing from the 1970s to the 1990s, the article tries to identify historical conditions of social, political and economic organisation embedded in the physical forms. By juxtaposing the recent planning and renovation of the village with its past, the discussion of the villages architectural heritage is intended to cast some light on key aspects of village preservation and revitalisation in rural China.

Green development status in Zhejiang province and the city of Ningbo, China: examination of policies, strategies and incentives at multiple levels

China is undergoing the largest scale of urbanization in history and at an unprecedented pace. The construction and operation of buildings have inevitably brought severe pressures on resource conservation and environmental protection. China has initiated policies, strategies and financial incentive schemes at national level to address these issues. It is also seen that there is a growing interest in recent years at local government level in promoting green buildings. This paper will examine the current national policies, targets and standards and then discuss how these national initiatives are reflected at provincial and city level by taking Zhejiang Province and Ningbo City as case studies. A comparison between different levels of initiatives is conducted by reviewing incentive mechanisms, technological development and compliance requirements. It is concluded that the national initiatives may be not effective without local enhancement.

Environmental implications of privatised public space in gated residential neighbourhood: case study of China's small residential district

Gated neighbourhood is well-defined by enclosed walls and gates with clear physical boundaries. The most distinctive feature of gated neighbourhoods is that their public spaces are normally privatised. The construction and operation of the public space within a gated neighbourhood consumes energy and resources, and sequentially has impacts on the environment. This paper argues such environmental impacts from the construction and operation of the public space should be also “privatised”, i.e. it should be jointly owned by all property owners of a gated neighbourhood. Through examining a case study neighbourhood in China, this research indicates the environmental outcomes due to the privatisation of the public space cannot be ignored. De-privatising the public space from gated neighbourhoods through sound urban planning can help to improve environmental sustainability as well as social sustainability in tandem.

Eco-Development in the Global Context

This chapter is dedicated to the concept of eco-development in the global context. We start with some of the globally known examples of eco-development at the three spatial levels, and then explore some of the main methods and globally used evaluation tools for green development. Each of these tools are discussed at their specific spatial level, with further discussion on how they play their role in the promotion of the concept of eco-development at various scales.

Eco-Development in the Chinese Context

This chapter follows on from the previous one by moving into the context of China. We start with a detailed analysis of China’s urbanisation process by discussing some of the past and current challenges of urban growth and urbanisation. We then move into the narrative for the evolution of eco-development in China, and further discuss the positioning of China in relation to its eco-development strategies. In here, we explore some of the key national policies on China’s eco-development, before concluding with one local example.

Sustainability and Development: Challenges, Implications and Actor Constellations

This chapter begins with an examination of the origins of urban sustainability. We focus on the issues in relation to the themes of sustainability and development, setting the scene for further exploration of key topics, such as sustainable city, eco-city and eco-development. In this chapter, we also discuss the topic of eco-development based on its general challenges, implications and actor constellations. The three spatial levels of the built environment (city, neighbourhood/community and building) are introduced and discussed further, which are then followed up by detailed discussions on the topic of urban sustainability. This chapter concludes with a discussion on barriers of promoting eco-development in present.

Future Eco-Development in China and Beyond

In this chapter, we first consider some of the past and current trends of eco-development, both globally and focused on the experience of China. We provide a detailed analysis of eco-development approaches that exist in the built environment at three spatial levels. Afterwards, we provide a comprehensive analysis of ‘eco’ from a multiscalar perspective. In this part, we look into issues of climate change and how it effects urban resilience, and as such, eco-development as our mainstream. We then discuss more about the context of China and precisely explore the importance of the regional context and climatic conditions, stakeholder constellations as part of project development, and traditions as rightful methods for the future. In the final section of the chapter, we highlight some future directions and give an insight about what directions will be suitable in China, if the concept of eco- is going to continue and strive for further development.

Micro Level: Green Building Cases in China

In China, the concept of ‘Green Building’ originated in the use of building using energy-saving methods. The Chinese central government began to take measures to reduce energy consumption in building as early as the 1980s. In addition to building design codes and evaluation standards, China has also taken measures to encourage property developers or investors to certify their buildings. By doing so, the government provides additional financial incentives in the form of government subsidies, accelerates certification processes and offers technical and marketing assistance. In this chapter, we explore seven cases of individual eco-/green building projects in China, based on two categories of ‘passive Design’ and ‘Green Building Certification’. These two categories are recognised as current green building practices in China. All selected cases are pioneer green-building projects in China. Each case study is assessed based on their eco-initiatives and green features with a case study reflection.

Macro Level: Eco-City Cases in China

In China, eco-city projects are not city-wide scale projects and they do not cover a whole municipality. They are often developed as new zones, or new districts nearby to or within the municipality of main urban regions. These can be regarded as experimental projects, satellite towns, or simply developed as new urban expansion zones or new districts to a larger municipality. In this chapter, we explore six cases of macro scale projects representing the current practice of eco-development at the city level in China. These cases are classified into three categories, namely: (1) local initiatives; (2) national flagship projects; and (3) international cooperation projects. Each case study is evaluated based on their masterplan, layout, eco-strategies and green technologies.