SHANGHAI: The Shanghai government's call for increased foreign investment in the service sector gave local developer Steven Liu an idea.

That idea has since become reality with the completion of the first building in Pujiang Intelligent Valley (PIV) this September.

Shanghai Pengchen United Industry Co Ltd, jointly invested by Shanghai Pengxin Group Co Ltd, Hong Kong Morningside Group and Shanghai Pujiang Industry Zone Investment Development Co Ltd, started the PIV project, believed to be the first large-scale energy-efficient office development in China, in 2005.

Following three phases of construction, the whole project will be completed by the end of April next year.

Located in Pujiang Town in Shanghai's Minhang District, the whole project is expected to cover a total footprint of 733,000 square metres.

With 20 office buildings in the central valley boasting a total of 160,000 - 300,000 square metres of floor space, and research and development buildings either side with around 650,000 square metres, the whole development will be served by underground parking.

The footprint of PIV's first phase is 202,000 square metres, accommodating six office buildings and eight research and development centres.

"We are turning the valley into a place where health and comfort are the number one concerns." says Liu, general manager of the consortium working on the development.

Pujiang Intelligent Valley not only prioritizes energy saving, but also takes into account the needs of the people working in the buildings, Liu continues.

"The principle for us is that people are the spirit of a building. What we can do is, through design, make sure people are able to use the building to its full potential."

PIV outshines its like by applying five major advanced technologies from abroad, which erects a landmark in energy-saving construction.

Five systems

It is the first office building in China to incorporates five energy saving systems including exterior sun shading panels, a 100 per cent fresh air system, heat-insulating walls, under-floor piping and geothermal systems.

The exterior sun shading panels and the 100 per cent fresh air system are two examples of the dual focus on environmental and human needs.

"The exterior sun shading panels feature special roller shutters.

Sunlight can be refracted through the shutters on to the ceiling, lighting up the entire room.

The shutters can be adjusted to let exactly the right amount of light into a room," says Liu. "This panel system is not only convenient for the people in the offices, but also saves energy spent on lighting."

Another representative technology is the 100 per cent fresh air system used to ventilate the offices.

Air piped into the offices undergoes a five-step process including filtration, heating or cooling and humidification or dehumidification, to ensure a comfortable atmosphere.

It is claimed that the system helps protect against health problems associated with traditional office air conditioners such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Well-insulated walls help keep the buildings naturally cool in summer and warm in winter, saving on energy. Under-floor piping and geothermal wall systems economically and efficiently keep the indoor temperature between 26 and 28 centigrade in summer and between 18 and 20 centigrade in winter, using underground energy to pre-heat or pre-cool the buildings by circulating water through a network of pipes.

Although construction costs are 20-25 per cent higher than a similar project using conventional technology, once occupied, the PIV development will consume 65 per cent less energy, recouping the increased investment within five or six years through lower energy bills.

"But you can't put a monetary value on the benefits a healthy and comfortable work environment can bring to the people and companies working there," Liu adds.

Energy-saving office buildings at PIV are aimed at high-end customers mainly in the high value-added service industries including, but not limited to, software exploration, media services, electronic information services and data processing centres.

China's first ecological office building appeared in 2004, with Xinzhuang Industry Park in Shanghai as the initial experimental model for others to follow.

Ecological apartment buildings also sprung up at about the same time, with Beijing's Moma as one of the most well known among them.

But none of its predecessors has made use of as many cutting-edge technologies as PIV.

Harmonious co-existence

And the focus on the environment is not limited to what happens inside the buildings, European architects have worked to ensure the buildings are in harmony with their setting.

"Buildings are most beautiful when they fit in with their surroundings," Liu explains. Greenery covers 45 per cent of the whole PIV project area, making the valley a natural ecological park.

Walking in the PIV, man-made lakes and uniquely designed wooden bridges are being constructed to create a feeling of being at one with nature.

"We are trying to restore the original appearance of the natural environment rather than to build artificial scenic beauty. It is the harmonious co-existence between people and nature that helps the sustainable development of both nature and human society," says Liu.

PIV is an outstanding model for energy efficient and environmentally friendly office buildings in China. So far, the project has already been honoured with the "Energy-saving and creative construction of China" award from the Ministry of Construction.

The first building to be completed this September has been recommended for display in the "Shanghai-Hamburg Ecological Building Exhibition," to be held this November.

Industry analysts say the energy consumption for construction in Shanghai is rising an average of 1 per cent each year. Of the newly built constructions, only 10 per cent meet the required standard of energy saving.

By 2010 the energy spent on the construction of buildings will account for 21 per cent of Shanghai's total energy consumption.

The need to be more energy efficient falls on all circles of society.

"The construction of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly buildings is a growing industry around the world. For developers, there is a healthy market of companies looking to locate their offices in these kinds of buildings," Liu said, "It is an opportunity we must make the most of. Added to which, it is also our inescapable social duty to contribute to environmental protection."

(China Daily 07/31/2006 page8)