Shanghai – The Real City of Lights

A few weeks ago I returned from a 2 week visit to Shanghai, China. It was not my first time to Asia, as I have been to Singapore and Malaysia a number of times. But this was my first time to China. I was there on a field study with 13 other students and my professor to learn about some of the initiatives that Chinese industry and government are taking to meet emission targets set following the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change. We also went to the Shanghai World Expo – where the focus of each pavilion was on environmental sustainability. One of the pavilions we toured called the Carbon pavilion showcased a number of efficient technologies that have been developed that use wind, solar and bio-mass energy in new construction projects in various parts of China. Windcowls, solar powered panels and green roofs with Photovoltaic panels are being incorporated into new energy-efficient communities minimize energy consumption and water demand and use energy sources in nature to provide energy without using non-renewable resources such as oil and coal.

Overall, the Expo and some of the other companies we visited were nothing short of impressive. The same goes for the city’s night life! Shanghai’s skyline lights up and sparkles and makes for an incredible view whether you’re on the ground at the Bund (the Waterfront) or at a club up on the 92nd floor of the Financial Tower. Without a doubt, the Chinese know how to make an impression, and they let you know that they are not to be taken lightly!

But given all the investments in the World Expo and alternative energy technologies and industrial zones, how much energy is actually being saved? How much energy is being consumed to light up Shanghai’s entire skyline every night, not to mention Beijing, Hong Kong, etc etc? What will become of all of the pavilions when the Expo closes in October 2010? Some will remain standing while others will be torn down and Shanghai will continue to light up while other areas in China’s northeast struggle with electricity every day. That doesn’t seem very energy efficient to me.