Over 50% Carbon Reduction! Highlighting 12 Iconic Near-Zero Carbon Building Cases in Guangdong

Last July, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued the "Notice on Conducting Pilot Project Reviews for Ultra-Low Energy Consumption Buildings and More," which identified seven pilot projects in Guangdong Province focusing on ultra-low energy consumption buildings, (nearly) zero-energy buildings, zero-carbon buildings, and energy-efficient renovations. Additionally, 17 projects were selected as exemplary cases of ultra-low energy consumption, (nearly) zero-energy, zero-carbon buildings, and energy-saving renovations across the province. This article highlights 12 typical examples of near-zero carbon building projects from Guangdong Province for your review.

Introduction to the Near-Zero Carbon and Near/Ultra-Low Energy Consumption Building Project at China Construction Fourth Bureau Science & Technology Building: This project is a high-rise office building with a total floor area of 104,402.14㎡ and a building height of 176m, primarily designed for office use. The construction entity is China Construction Fourth Bureau Development (Guangzhou Tianhe) Co., Ltd.

China Construction Fourth Bureau Science & Innovation Building Low-carbon and energy-saving technologies: In terms of building energy efficiency, strategies include optimizing site layout and building form, enhancing the thermal performance of the building envelope (such as using ultra-clear laminated triple-silver insulated glass curtain walls), incorporating sunshades, designing cool alleys, implementing solar chimneys, and utilizing atrium daylighting to reduce the building's energy demands. On the active energy efficiency front, measures like deploying high-efficiency chiller plants, employing total heat recovery in fresh-air systems, integrating CO₂ monitoring with automated controls, installing advanced intelligent lighting systems, and equipping buildings with energy-efficient elevators are being adopted. As for renewable energy sources, Photovoltaic power generation systems are applied on the tower rooftop, the horizontal decorative wings of the curtain wall, and the podium rooftop. , Domestic hot water is supplied by an air-source heat pump. Low-carbon benefits: The building achieved a comprehensive energy consumption value of 29.36 kWh/(㎡·a), with an on-site energy-saving rate of 51.0% and a total energy-saving rate of 61.0%. Renewable energy utilization rate: 25.4% , meeting the near-zero energy building performance requirements outlined in the national standard "Technical Standard for Near-Zero Energy Buildings." As a result, the building's carbon emissions have been reduced to 16.7 kgCO₂. ₂ /(㎡·a), achieving annual electricity savings of 4 million kWh, reducing carbon emissions by 2,090 tons, and attaining a carbon reduction rate of 58.9%. This project has been selected for inclusion in the first batch of National Development and Reform Commission’s demonstration list of advanced green and low-carbon technologies. Project location: Plot AT091429, East Area of International Finance City, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province. Introduction to the 200,000-vehicle-per-year (new energy vehicles) production capacity expansion project—featuring a zero-carbon and near-zero/ultra-low-energy consumption building for the production office building. This project is a multi-story office building located at No. 6 Huangge East 1st Road, Huangge Town, Nansha District, Guangzhou City. The construction entity is GAC Toyota Motor Co., Ltd.

200,000-unit annual production capacity expansion project for (new energy vehicles), including a new production and office building. Low-carbon technology: In terms of building envelope energy efficiency, the project employs advanced technologies to enhance the thermal performance and air-tightness of the building envelope, utilizing high-performance doors, windows, and curtain walls. Walls and roofs are equipped with innovative insulation and heat-reduction systems. Additionally, the east building’s changing rooms, corridors, restrooms, and stairwells feature daylight tubes that bring in natural light. The design also incorporates optimized airflow strategies to enable natural ventilation during transitional seasons. An internal shading system has been installed, while numerous tall, shade-providing trees and shrubs—such as pink bamboo, dwarf boxwood, and variegated reed—are strategically planted around the building, particularly near glass curtain walls, to significantly reduce the building’s cooling load from air conditioning. On the active energy-efficiency front, the project deploys highly efficient air-cooled multi-split air conditioning systems along with roof-mounted air-cooled unitary chillers, implementing a layered HVAC design and equipping the system with a centralized remote control mechanism for air conditioning. Energy-efficient, high-performance lighting fixtures and eco-friendly light sources have been selected, with meticulous zoning of lighting controls; for instance, automatic sensor-based lighting is installed in office areas. As for renewable energy, solar photovoltaic systems are integrated into the office building, gatehouse, and parking lot areas. Low-carbon benefits: The project achieves an annual carbon emission reduction of 436,493.09 kgCO₂ during the building's operational phase. ₂ , the renewable energy system reduces carbon emissions by 429,359.1 kgCO₂ annually. ₂ , essentially achieving zero-carbon and zero-energy consumption in building operations. Project address: No. 6, Huangge East 1st Road, Huangge Town, Nansha District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province Introduction to the Near-Zero Carbon and Near/Ultra-Low Energy Consumption Building Project for Phase I of the Nansha New Area Mingzhu Bay Startup Area (Lingshan Island Tip) Bus Terminal: This project is a transportation building located in the Initial Development Zone of Mingzhu Bay, Nansha New Area, Guangzhou City. The project covers a total land area of 3,581 square meters, with a total floor area of 1,352.4 square meters and a building height of 12 meters. The construction entity is the Guangzhou Nansha New Area Mingzhu Bay Development and Construction Administration Bureau and Guangzhou Nansha Mingzhu Bay Area Development Co., Ltd. Nansha New Area Mingzhu Bay Startup Area Phase I (Lingshan Island Tip) Bus Terminal Low-carbon and energy-saving technologies: This project addresses the region's hot climate and the high annual energy consumption attributed to air conditioning. By integrating multiple passive and active technologies, it significantly reduces building energy use while maintaining indoor comfort standards. Passive technologies include the integration of buildings with bus shelter canopies, the use of high-performance center-mounted louvered glass, selection of advanced building envelope materials, and thermal bridge break techniques. Active technologies involve deploying high-efficiency HVAC systems, adopting cutting-edge lighting solutions, and installing a comprehensive building-wide energy monitoring and control system along with an intelligent lighting management system. The bus shelter roof is equipped with a photovoltaic power generation system, covering an area of approximately 471㎡. Low-carbon benefits : The project has achieved a comprehensive building energy consumption value of 24.1 kWh/(㎡·a), with an on-site building energy-saving rate of 31.96% and an overall energy-saving rate of 86.29%. Additionally, the utilization rate of renewable energy reached 77%, meeting the near-zero-energy building performance criteria outlined in the national standard "Technical Standard for Near-Zero Energy Buildings." The project is located at Lingshan Island Tip in the Startup Area of Nansha New District, Guangzhou City, situated on the eastern side of the Rain and Flood Park, bordered to the east by Feisha Road, while the remaining three sides also face directly onto the Rain and Flood Park. Introduction to the Near-Zero Carbon and Near/Ultra-Low Energy Consumption Building Projects at Shenzhen Low-Carbon City Convention & Exhibition Center (Halls A, B, and C): This project involves the renovation of existing public buildings, with Pavilion A serving as an exhibition venue, Pavilion B as a conference facility, and Pavilion C functioning as a trading hall. The project is located in the core startup area of Shenzhen International Low-Carbon City. The entities involved in the application are Longgang District Construction and Public Works Bureau of Shenzhen, Jianxue Architecture & Engineering Design Co., Ltd., and China Resources Land Urban Operation Management (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Low-Carbon City Convention & Exhibition Center Low-carbon and energy-saving technologies: In terms of building energy efficiency, a composite shading system is employed, including ecological corridors between buildings and opaque photovoltaic curtain walls. For proactive energy performance improvements, the venue’s outdated air conditioning units have been replaced with high-efficiency magnetic levitation air conditioning units, and electrically operated window vents have been designed and installed. Additionally, the spectator areas utilize seat-mounted ventilation systems featuring displacement airflow. In the field of renewable energy, BIPV integrated photovoltaic technology is employed, and a solar-storage-charging pile system has been established to participate in grid interaction and dispatching. 。 Low-carbon benefits : Building A achieved an energy-saving rate of 22.61% for its structural components, with a comprehensive energy-saving rate of 189.90% and a renewable energy utilization rate of 216.04%. Building B recorded an energy-saving rate of 20.79% for its structural elements, a comprehensive rate of 134.11%, and a renewable energy utilization rate of 143.06%, all meeting the zero-energy building standards. Meanwhile, Building C demonstrated an energy-saving rate of 22.56% for its structural parts, a comprehensive rate of 77.00%, and a renewable energy utilization rate of 70.30%, fulfilling the near-zero-energy building criteria. The project was included in the first batch of pilot projects for Shenzhen’s “Near-Zero Carbon Emission Zones” in 2022 and was awarded second prize in the 2022 annual selection of exemplary cases for carbon peak and carbon neutrality initiatives conducted by the State Council. The project is located at No. 10 Ni Paichang Road, Longgang District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province. Introduction to the Near-Zero Carbon and Near/Ultra-Low Energy Consumption Building Project at the 5th Construction Science Institute Future Tower: This project is an office building with a total site area of 11,000 square meters, a total floor area of 63,000 square meters, and a building height of 100 meters. The construction entity is Shenzhen Academy of Building Research Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Institute of Building Research Future Tower Low-carbon and energy-saving technologies: In terms of enhancing the building envelope, medium-hung windows are employed to boost ventilation efficiency by 50%, along with integrated external shading systems and the application of vertical greenery technology. The project also utilizes photovoltaic-storage-direct-flexible (PEDF) technology, establishing a new type of building electrical distribution system—“PEDF”—tailored specifically for residential electricity consumption scenarios. This includes BIPV photovoltaic power generation systems, distributed energy storage, DC power applications, and flexible power distribution systems, enabling buildings to work in harmony with the grid. Low-carbon benefits : The project achieved an energy-saving rate of 55.94% for the building itself, a comprehensive energy-saving rate of 64.68%, and a renewable energy utilization rate of 29.18%, meeting the near-zero-energy building performance criteria outlined in the national standard "Technical Standard for Near-Zero Energy Buildings." This project is part of the China-U.S. Joint Clean Energy Research Center's building energy-efficiency collaboration initiative and also supports the research topic titled "Key Technology Research and Demonstration for Net-Zero Energy Buildings." The project's R3 module successfully passed the specialized net-zero energy acceptance inspection organized by the Science & Technology and Industrialization Development Center of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in 2019. The project is located approximately 220 meters northeast from the intersection of Pingbei North Road and Fudi Road in Longgang District, Shenzhen City. Introduction to the Near-Zero Carbon and Near/Ultra-Low Energy Consumption Building Project for Phase II Factory and Office Buildings at Pino Science Park: This project is an office building located in the Xiangzhou District of Zhuhai City. The total site area is 12,000 square meters, with a total floor area of 22,500 square meters, of which 6,400 square meters are air-conditioned. The construction entity is Far East Curtain Wall (Zhuhai) Co., Ltd. Low-carbon and energy-saving technologies: In terms of building envelope energy efficiency, high-performance building envelopes are employed on the west side and rooftop, where green vegetation is utilized to block direct sunlight, thereby reducing radiant heat gain through the envelope. Additionally, daylighting atriums are installed to address lighting challenges in deep interior spaces. For active energy efficiency improvements, highly efficient DC-inverter multi-split air conditioning systems and energy-saving LED lighting fixtures are implemented, complemented by personalized smart control devices at the terminal level. Elevators incorporate energy-saving features such as group control and regenerative braking systems. In terms of renewable energy applications, photovoltaic power generation modules are utilized. Installed capacity reaches 115.5 kWp. Low-carbon benefits: The project achieved an energy-saving rate of 21.67% for the building itself and a comprehensive energy-saving rate of 60.65%, meeting the ultra-low-energy building performance requirements outlined in the national standard "Technical Standard for Near-Zero Energy Buildings." Introduction to the Ultra-Low Energy Consumption Building Project of Zhuhai Meteorological Disaster Monitoring and Early Warning Center: This office building project is located in the High-Tech Zone of Zhuhai City. The project covers a total land area of 6,500.02㎡ and boasts a total floor area of 11,000.91㎡, with 7,839.05㎡ above ground and 3,163.86㎡ underground. Its primary functions include meteorological disaster early warning, command operations, news releases, and science communication initiatives. The applying entity is Zhuhai Municipal Institute of Architectural Design. Low-carbon and energy-saving technologies: In terms of building envelope energy efficiency, high-performance building envelopes are employed, with horizontal shading devices installed on the south and north facades, and vertical shading systems on the east and west facades. On the western side of the building, components are arranged 1.8 meters away from the envelope, creating a cool alleyway. Additionally, stepped roof designs and green roof installations are implemented to mitigate the urban heat island effect and significantly reduce energy consumption. For active energy efficiency improvements, highly efficient and energy-saving air conditioning systems are utilized, with multi-split units deployed in key functional spaces—all equipment meeting Level 1 energy efficiency standards. LED lighting and other high-efficiency, energy-saving lamps are also incorporated throughout the building. In areas like stairwells, infrared sensors with delayed activation are used, while timed switches are installed in garages and public corridors. Elsewhere, local grouped control systems are employed for optimal energy management. In terms of renewable energy applications, two air-source heat pumps have been installed to supply domestic hot water for restrooms and emergency duty rooms. Low-carbon benefits :The project achieved a comprehensive building energy consumption value of 21.93 kWh/(㎡·a), with an on-site building energy-saving rate of 10.16% and an overall energy-saving rate of 19.55%. The renewable energy utilization rate reached 6.89%. Project address: No. 189 Jinxing Road, Xiangzhou District, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province. Introduction to the Zero-Energy Building Project of the R&D Building at the 8 Waterfa Xingye New Energy Industrial Park: This project is a comprehensive office building located at No. 9 Jinzhu Road, Science and Technology Innovation Coast, High-Tech Zone, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province. It occupies a land area of 2,302.72 m², with a total floor area of 23,546 m² and a building height of 67.2 meters. The structure comprises 17 floors (including a 3-story podium), offering a variety of functional spaces such as offices, conference rooms, laboratories, exhibition areas, and leisure zones. The project is developed by Shuifa Xingye Energy Group. Low-carbon, energy-saving technology: A controllable multifunctional photovoltaic curtain wall integrating ventilation, shading, and power generation. The shading components integrate the ventilation system with photovoltaic panels; photovoltaic canopies are installed at the building’s entrances and exits. The ground floor, designed as a non-air-conditioned area, features vertically oriented glass louvers that can rotate up to 170°, enabling natural ventilation. Key office spaces are equipped with high-efficiency chillers, while a central vertical core houses an exhaust shaft to enhance airflow. Building lighting across different functional zones is managed through automated, remote, and local control systems. Additionally, the building includes an integrated building adaptation and energy management system that combines energy consumption monitoring, energy data analysis, energy-saving decision-making, and equipment operation control. To further optimize energy use, the facility is outfitted with an 80 kWh lithium battery pack, which is powered by two energy storage inverters operating in parallel to form a microgrid system. Low-carbon benefits : Actual annual energy consumption during operation is as low as 40.53 kWh/m², with solar power accounting for 18% of total energy generation. This results in a net annual energy consumption of just 23.65 kWh/m². The building saves approximately 380,000 kWh of electricity each year, translating to annual cost savings of 381,100 yuan and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 359.45 tons. With an energy efficiency rate of 88%, the building meets the near-zero energy consumption benchmark and has become the nation’s first certified zero-energy building to achieve operational-stage certification. It has also earned recognition as a Net-Zero Energy Demonstration Building under CREC1.0, the Building Energy Conservation Alliance of the China-U.S. Clean Energy Joint Center, along with the prestigious International Eco-Award and LEED Platinum certification. The project is located at No. 9 Jinzhu Road, Science & Innovation Coast, High-Tech Zone, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province. Introduction to the Zero-Energy Building Project of Shenling Environmental High-Tech Zone Intelligent Manufacturing Base R&D Building: This project is a multi-story, comprehensive office building with a total floor area of approximately 22,795.32㎡ and a building height of 28.95m. It features six floors above ground and is primarily designed for office and R&D purposes, located in Shunde High-Tech Zone (Xingtang). The applicant is Guangdong Shenling Environmental Systems Co., Ltd. Low-carbon and energy-saving technologies: In terms of building envelope energy efficiency, we have comprehensively enhanced the thermal performance of the building envelope, reducing the roof’s overall heat transfer coefficient to 0.37 W/(㎡·K) and the exterior wall’s to 0.55 W/(㎡·K), while carefully considering natural daylighting and ventilation conditions. On the active energy efficiency front, we’ve adopted an ultra-large temperature-difference water-based energy storage air-conditioning system design, aiming to maximize the system’s energy utilization efficiency and leverage energy storage to alleviate daytime electricity demand on the urban grid. The chiller room system is targeted to achieve a full-year energy efficiency ratio of 5.5+ , while also optimizing the terminal system design to ensure that the large-temperature-difference water-cooled ice storage air-conditioning system maintains an efficiency ratio of at least 4.2. Additionally, an efficient lighting system has been implemented. Select battery modules with high photoelectric conversion efficiency, installing a photovoltaic capacity of 6.41 MWp. The photovoltaic system generates enough electricity to meet the park's annual building energy consumption needs, and any excess power generated—beyond the park's own electricity demand—is directly fed into the grid. Low-carbon benefits: The project has achieved an energy-saving rate of 43.58% for the building itself, a comprehensive energy-saving rate of 100%, and a renewable energy utilization rate of 723.51%, meeting the zero-energy building standards outlined in China's national standard, "Technical Standard for Near-Zero Energy Buildings." Project location: Shunye East Road, Shunde District, Foshan City, Guangdong Province. Introduction to the Zero-Energy Office Building and Zero-Energy Building Project at China State Construction Steel Structure Guangdong Plant: The project is located within the Guangdong plant area of China State Construction Steel Structure in Huizhou City. It consists of a three-story office building with a site area of 499.8㎡, a total floor area of 1,478㎡, and a building height of 12.25m. Completion took place in 2009. The applying entities are China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd. and China State Construction Engineering Group Green Technology Co., Ltd. Low-carbon and energy-saving technologies: Building energy-saving and carbon-reduction renovations follow the principles of passive priority and active optimization. In terms of passive technologies, the project upgrades the building envelope system by incorporating advanced exterior wall insulation, innovative external reflective techniques, and cutting-edge window and door sealing methods, significantly enhancing overall building performance. High-performance shading technologies are also employed to minimize solar radiation, thereby reducing summer air-conditioning energy consumption to a minimum. Active technologies include an intelligent, breath-like rotating curtain wall design in the entrance hall, which automatically adjusts its opening and angle based on temperature and wind speed, optimizing airflow. Additionally, while the three-story open-plan office areas and large conference rooms are equipped with Tier 2 energy-efficient multi-split air conditioning systems, all other major functional spaces utilize Tier 1 energy-efficient inverter-based split air conditioners. Furthermore, energy-efficient lighting fixtures are installed, achieving a lighting power density that is more than 20% lower than the standard requirements, complemented by zone-specific and group-based control measures. Beyond these measures, the project actively integrates renewable energy sources, The rooftop features an elevated photovoltaic design, maximizing the area available for PV installation. It innovatively integrates power generation with shading functions, utilizing cadmium telluride materials that enable efficient electricity production even under low-light conditions. This approach delivers significant carbon-reduction benefits. :The project has earned the first zero-energy design certification for a renovation project in the hot-summer and warm-winter region. Through comprehensive renovations, it reduces CO2 emissions by 86 tons annually—equivalent to planting 9.6 hectares of forest, an area roughly 192 times the building's footprint. The project’s key findings have been documented in two published papers, and seven patents have been applied for. Project location: China State Construction Steel Structure Guangdong Co., Ltd., Zhongjian Avenue, Huiyang District, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province. Introduction to the 11X-HOUSE Zero-Energy Building / Zero-Carbon Building Project : This project is a residential building located in the X-Park campus in Huizhou. The total land area is 400㎡, with a footprint of 144㎡. The total floor area stands at 115.84㎡, of which 109.24㎡ is dedicated to living spaces and 6.6㎡ to auxiliary areas. The construction entities are China State Construction Engineering Corporation Science & Technology Group Co., Ltd. and China State Construction Engineering Corporation Green Technology Co., Ltd. Low-carbon and energy-saving technologies In terms of building envelope energy efficiency, advanced technologies are employed to optimize the building envelope, including high-performance non-transparent enclosure systems, high-efficiency windows and doors, operable skylights, and thermal-bridge-free designs. For proactive energy efficiency improvements, measures such as DC variable-volume water (VWV) centralized air-conditioning fan coil systems, intelligent lighting controls, smart shading systems, and active ventilation systems are implemented to minimize building energy consumption to the greatest extent possible. In the field of renewable energy, installing bifacial photovoltaic modules on rooftops enables electricity generation to exceed power consumption needs. , Domestic hot water is supplied by a solar thermal system, complemented by auxiliary heating equipment; the project features a multifunctional perimeter wall that integrates photovoltaic technology with drip irrigation-based planting systems, creating a self-sustaining microsystem in perfect energy balance. Low-carbon benefits : Achieved a comprehensive building energy consumption value of 37.52 kWh/(㎡·a), with annual cooling electricity usage at 26.09 kWh/㎡, Renewable energy utilization reaches 224.70% This project was an entry in the 2021 International Solar Decathlon competition, participating in all 13 events and ultimately winning 9 individual championships. It went on to claim first place in the 2021 International Solar Decathlon Middle East Regional Competition. The project is located at: China State Construction Steel Structure Guangdong Co., Ltd., Zhongjian Avenue, Huayang District, Huizhou City, Guangdong Province. 12 Guangdong Construction Science & Technology · Zhongshan Digital Intelligence Hub: Introduction to the Zero-Carbon Exhibition Hall and Zero-Energy Building Project This project is an office building located in Dongsanwei, the initial development area of Cuiheng New District, Nanlang Town, Zhongshan City. The total land area is 22,431.80㎡, with a total floor area of 157,897.41㎡, including a 4,025㎡ zero-carbon exhibition hall. The project is being developed by Guangdong Jianke Innovation Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. Low-carbon and energy-saving technologies In terms of building envelope energy efficiency, advanced technologies such as high-performance curtain wall glass, motorized adjustable external shading systems, and vertical green walls are employed to optimize the building's thermal insulation. For active energy efficiency improvements, measures like high-efficiency HVAC units, intelligent lighting control, and smart shading systems are implemented to minimize the building's overall energy consumption. Additionally, renewable energy is harnessed through photovoltaic modules installed on the rooftop, ensuring that electricity generation exceeds the building's actual energy needs. Low-carbon benefits After the Zero-Carbon Exhibition Hall is put into operation, it will adhere to near-zero energy consumption building standards. By implementing various green, energy-saving, and low-carbon technologies, along with optimized operational management, the hall aims to achieve an actual operating energy consumption that is 80% of that of a benchmark building. The building is expected to reduce annual energy consumption by approximately 40,000 kWh and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 18,000 kg. According to the zero-energy building standard, the projected annual photovoltaic power generation requirement is approximately 450,000 kWh/year. Based on a carbon emission factor of 0.5, this will help reduce CO₂ emissions by 225,000 kg annually. Project location: Dong Sanwei, Startup Area, Cuiheng New District, Nanlang Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province. The list of case studies is as follows:

Image and text source: Green Building Study Group