Partner News: Finnish EcoCity project makes headway in China

Date: 07 March 2008

ERTICO Partner draws up preliminary plan to build EcoCity in MenTouGou District of Beijing.

ERTICO – ITS Europe Partner VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the MenTouGou District of Beijing have agreement for VTT to draw up a preliminary study on planning and building an EcoCity. The study will be conducted as a Finnish-Chinese collaboration, and will focus on constructing an EcoCity based on cutting-edge technology. Global EcoSolutions Oy, a VTT spin-off company established for carrying out EcoCity projects, will be involved in implementing the EcoCity project in the MenTouGou District.

The VTT study includes creating an EcoCity concept suitable for the MenTouGou District, an implementation plan and a list of required technological development actions. VTT will also explore how the city may be built in such a way that significant environmental value is conserved when building new houses and renovating old ones. The results will be exploited in developing environmentally sustainable building standards in China.

On display during the Olympics

According to VTT, the site also acts as a significant showcase to the rest of the world since the district is a popular tourist attraction in China. The EcoCity will also be one of the themes on display during the Beijing Olympic Games.

In addition to VTT's experts, representatives of the MenTouGou District administration and Chinese experts from Tsinghua and Nankai Universities will take part in the study. Professor Eero Paloheimo and Vice President Professor Kari Larjava represent the Finnish Members of the project’s advisory board. The idea of establishing a Finnish technology based EcoCity in China was originally proposed by Professor Eero Paloheimo.

In spring 2007 VTT introduced the Finnish High-Tech EcoCity concept in China. It included innovative and ecological town planning, energy efficient housing and low-waste living, a closed water system, integrated telecommunications, low-emission passenger traffic, efficient waste management and recycling, and emission-free local energy production based on solar, wind and bio power.

The future EcoCity will be part of the current town and village structure. Planning, materials and structures in the renovation and infilling will conform to the principles of sustainable development. Consumption of materials and energy is to be ecological and economical. Emissions will be kept to a minimum. The EcoCity will be a pleasant place to live, and it will offer excellent services in a clean and natural environment. The goal is to create people-friendly surroundings that suit all types of residents.

Global EcoSolutions Oy is also currently negotiating EcoCity energy and environmental technology projects in other parts of China, Central Europe, Romania and Russia.

For further information, please contact VTT Project Manager, Customer Manager Jyri Nieminen at Tel: +358 20 722 4922 or jyri.nieminen@vtt.fi, or Global EcoSolutions Oy Managing Director Reijo Kohonen at Tel: +358 45 120 4900 or reijo.kohonen@ges.fi