Near-zero carbon living comes true in Boao, offering green model

Photovoltaic (PV) tiles on the ground, zero-carbon coffee kiosks, flower-shaped wind energy collectors, a spinning bike that charges your phone while you ride, as well as many other emission-reduction technologies and innovations were seen by the Global Times at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference in South China’s Hainan Province. The dreamcome-true near-zero carbon lifestyle provides the world with a model for green development.

In particular, a near-zero carbon demonstration zone in Boao started operation on March 18, ahead of the BFA Annual Conference 2024. The demonstration zone covers an area of 190.15 hectares and consists of three core carbon reduction areas: green transformation for buildings, renewable energy utilization, and green transformation for transportation.

By adopting emissionreduction technologies and various innovations, the zone can achieve a balance between clean power generation and consumption. It has completed 18 projects across eight categories and reached the near-zero carbon stage, the Global Times learned.

The Boao near-zero carbon demonstration zone makes full use of buildings’ roofs and walls and parking lots, with a total of 5.1 megawatts of PV panels distributed.

The press center for the BFA is among the 12 projects that were first transformed into green buildings. The floors outside the BFA press center are covered with PV tiles. A newly installed zero-carbon bar is also located outside the center.

As a result, visitors can experience the zero-carbon intelligent coffee machine at the bar. The coffee machine is powered by solar energy, and the paper cups use recycled materials.

After throwing the paper cups in a smart waste bin, it can detect the value of carbon emissions reduced by garbage recycling. Customers can receive “carbon coins” and pay for other goods with these coins, staffers at the bar told the Global Times.

China has set out pathways for reaching carbon neutrality in its energy sector, and achieving carbon neutrality fits with the country’s broader development goals, such as innovationdriven development.

The country has continuously increased clean energy generation and consumption.