To illuminate the way towards more sustainable building practices in China and around the world. "The new building provides a laboratory, offices and seminar accommodation; it has been designed to serve as an exemplar building, demonstrating state-of-the-art techniques for environmentally responsible, sustainable construction and energy efficient internal environment control."-Architect. The development was guided by two main principles, first optimisation of the design and use of passive energy strategies; second, reliance on renewable energies. ...Collapse

Standing in a large meadow alongside a stream that runs through the campus, the pavilion is made conspicuous by its dynamic shape, entirely clad in glass and inspired by the motif of the traditional Chinses lantern. The tower incorporates a permanent exhibition space envisaged as " a platform to communicate the latest developments in sustainable energy and construction technologies. ...Collapse

"The design intention of the building is that it will not require conventional heating and cooling systems and that the residual energy requirement will be met by renewable energy sources, thus minimising its carbon footprint," Characterised by a combination of carefully-coordinated technologies. "The space within the building has been configured to support a number of different heating, cooling and ventilation strategies as a demonstration of alternatives to conventional heating and cooling systems." High thermal insulation helps minimise heating requirements in winter and cooling in summer; skylights optimise the influx of sunlight. The south side features a large photovoltaic solar system that provides artificial lighting and power other renewable energy equipment such as solar thermal collectors, a ground-source heat pump and a wind turbine. ...Collapse