From next year, architectural firms in Guangzhou will be required to consider using energy-saving materials in their designs before submitting them to construction administration authorities for approval.

Pilot projects had already been launched in the city, a meeting was told Wednesday. A detailed regulation on energy saving in housing design and construction will be released in July next year.

Guangzhou was chosen to pilot energy saving in housing designs by the Ministry of Construction.

According to the ministry’s new standards, the overall design of a residential block must be ventilated. Apartment buildings should face southward or northward and glazed areas should not be too big. Windows facing south should not occupy more than half the wall, while the size of windows facing east and west should be no more than 30 percent of the wall area.

Most of the buildings in Guangzhou use glass-aluminum alloy windows that are easily penetrated by sunshine.

To provide good views, some real estate developers use huge fixed windows without considering heat prevention and ventilation. This kind of design and construction has greatly increased electricity consumption.

(Shenzhen Daily October 29, 2004)