Official Opening of CSET and International Sustainable Cities Symposium
The "Official Opening of the Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies and International Sustainable Cities Symposium" was held on September 20, 2008. Distinguished guests attended the ceremony including: Sir Colin Campbell, Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham University; professor Christine Ennew and Professor Chris Rudd, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham; professor Yang Fujia, President of UNNC; Professor Peter Buttery, Provost of UNNC; Mario Cucinella, Designer and Architect; Mr Bill Dunster, Principal and Architect of ZED factory; experts from Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Zhejiang University and other noted experts in their fields of study. Representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ningbo Planning Bureau, the Architectural Design and Research Institutes; Mme Xu Yafen, Chairperson of the Wanli Education Group (WEG), Mr Ying Xiong, President of WEG also attended.
The ceremony was hosted by Professor Yang Fujia. Sir Colin Campbell delivered the opening remarks. The Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies (CSET) building serves as an exemplary building, demonstrating state-of-the-art techniques for environmentally responsible, sustainable construction and energy efficient internal environmental control. Mario Cucinella, the building designer introduced the concept of low carbon design and five environmental design strategies to minimize the need for additional energy for heating, cooling and ventilation - the high performance envelope, exposed thermal mass, daylight & solar control, natural ventilation and piped ventilation to laboratories and workshops.
After the formal opening of the building, distinguished guests toured the building with Professor Jo Darkwa, Head of Division of Sustainable Development and Director of CSET introducing the various technologies and designs incorporated in the building.
Mr Bill Dunster, Principal and Architect of ZED factory Ltd and Mr Saffa Riffat, Professor of the University of Nottingham chaired the Sustainable Cities Symposium. Professor Yi Jiang, Academician from Tsinghua University; Mr Raymond Yao, Director of Arup; Mr John Puttik from Make Architects; Professor Fang Zhaohong, Vice-President of Shandong Jianzhu University addressed issues in the fields of "Green Life Style", "Dongtan - A Case Study in Urban Sustainability", "Urban Sustainability - Issues in Design and Construction" and "Ground Source Heat Pump Application in China" , respectively.
To promote the implementation of sustainable development strategies in architecture and explore technologies and techniques on energy conservation, Mr Bill Dunster hosted the ZED factory Sustainable Housing Seminar, addressing the concept and theory of ZED factory as well as ZED's response to sustainable strategies in China. The seminar also called for the establishment of the first Green Architecture Association in China and received great support from the assembled experts.
In closing, Professor Yang Fujia reiterated the responsibility of universities for sustainable development, energy conservation and emission reduction. "What our country and mankind are most concerned about is what we universities are most concerned about and need to shoulder the responsibility to address". He added, "the launch of the Centre is a significant step toward the goal of sustainability and we have confidence that its research and teaching will make a great contribution to China's sustainable development."
