Retrofit a green example

The 77-year-old landmark building in New York city, the Empire State Building, is about to get a green makeover to become more environmentally friendly. This could serve as an example to other parts of the world.

The upgrades planned for the Empire State Building include replacing all of the skyscraper's 6,500 windows with energy efficient insulated glass. Extra insulation will be installed behind radiators to conserve heat. Other changes are planned for the building's ventilation and lighting systems.

Retrofitting old buildings like the Empire State Building to be more environmentally friendly is an important step in reducing levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in New York.

In fact, similar efforts have also been made in other regions or countries in the world.

In March 2008, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled the Rooftop Solar Installation Project, which will place 250 megawatts of advanced photovoltaic generating technology on 65 million square feet on the rooftops of commercial buildings in Southern California.

China, as the world's largest developing country, has also taken a series of measures to reduce emission of green house gases, increase energy efficiency and build a resource-saving and environment-friendly society.

However, tackling the climate change crisis is not merely the business of governments or industry. Ordinary people can also take responsibility.

There are many things people can do in their daily lives to reduce green house gases or save energy, such as replacing old-fashioned incandescent bulbs with energy-saving ones, driving less, flying less, and turning down air conditioning at home.

As the current financial crisis spreads, many countries have worked out their rescue plans. Some are setting development of a greener economy as their goal.

US President Barack Obama put special emphasis on his "green energy plan". Emerging economies such as China, Brazil and India have included optimizing energy use and reducing CO2 emissions in their economic stimulus packages.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon suggested at last year's Group of 20 Washington summit that nations should consider the challenge of the financial crisis as an opportunity for "green development".

The current crisis has adversely affected many economies and industries, further complicating global efforts to reduce green house gas emissions and conserve energy.

Yet from a long-term perspective, investing more in green technology will not only help the world economy recover earlier, but also lift the pressures on the environment and resources to ensure sustainable growth.

Xinhua

(China Daily 04/20/2009 page2)