Olympic Gold

Have you been watching  the Olympics?

2008 Beijing Olympics goes green

The past couple of weeks have been amazing. First of all the Opening Ceremony was just riveting, a real spectacle! and every day the different events have kept me glued to my seat watching the feats, commiserating with the losers and applauding the winners.

China received its own Gold medal, when U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson presented Chinese officials with a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold award for the 2008 Olympic village. 80hectares, total building floor area of 470,000square meters, accommodating over 17,000 athletes together with a 760hectare ‘forest park’, providing safe and comfortable facilities for all participants. The world-class sustainable development boasts a variety of features including solar panels, green roofs, and an extensive rainwater recycling system.

While China’s pollution problems and their growing carbon footprint are a major global concern (China is now the largest greenhouse gas emitter by volume), the country made strides in an effort to “green” and clean up the city of Beijing for the Games, spending 17.6 billion dollars to reduce pollution and emissions. Let’s hope the short-term successes in support of the Olympics provide a model for China’s future, and the country vigorously addresses its significant contribution to global warming.

Congratulations to China for such an extra-ordinary spectacular!

Trying to make it a better place,
Zo Nicholas