The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic GamesAugust 8-24 2008
(BEIJING, October 24) -- Clean energy and renewable energy resources are used at all of the Olympic projects.
Contributing to a Green Olympics
The Olympic projects consist of 41 projects in the Olympic Green vicinity, 13 at area universities and 15 in the outskirts. And all of these projects use one or a combination of clean or renewable energy resources, including solar energy wind power, ground source heating, sewage heat, etc. to contribute to a "Green Olympics."
Water is a scarce resource in Beijing, and the city has invested in equipment and technology to conserve water resources. Reclaiming water, which involved treating and purifying wastewater or sewage for reuse, sewage treatment and rainwater recycling are also water conservation methods that the city supports.
According to an official from the Olympic project construction command department, all of the venues use reclaimed water to some extent.
In addition, five of the projects, including the National Aquatics Center, the Olympic Village and the Olympic Green, have advanced sewage treatment systems onsite.
A solar-powered water heating system in the Olympic Village will provide hot water for showering to the 16,800 athletes who will stay there next summer. Post-games, the system will provide hot water to residents in the neighborhood, saving 1,000 units of energy a year and reducing the annual use of coal by 2,400 tons.
The Beijing government has subsidized the development of "green" energy sources like solar power and ground source heating to contribute to the ideal of a "Green Olympics."
Through the government's support, the growth of "clean energy" has accelerated, thus slowing the effects of the energy crisis.
