Finnish EcoCity project makes headway in China

The MenTouGou District of Beijing and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have made an agreement about VTT drawing up a preliminary study on planning and building an EcoCity.

The study will be conducted by Finnish-Chinese collaboration, and it will focus on constructing an EcoCity based on cutting-edge technology. Global EcoSolutions Oy, a VTT spin-off company established for carrying out EcoCity projects, will be involved in implementing the EcoCity project in the MenTouGou District.

The VTT study will include creating an EcoCity concept suitable for the MenTouGou District, an implementation plan and a list of required technological development actions. In addition, VTT will explore how the city can be built in such a way that this area with significant environmental value can be conserved when building new houses and renovating old ones.

The results will be exploited in developing environmentally sustainable building standards in China. Global EcoSolutions Oy, a spin-off company of VTT, will be in charge of the implementation of the EcoCity plan.

The site also acts as a significant showcase to the world since the district is a popular tourist attraction in China. The EcoCity will also be one of the themes to be displayed during the Beijing Olympic Games.

In addition to VTT's experts, representatives of the MenTouGou District administration and Chinese experts from Tsinghua and Nankai Universities will take part in the study.

Professor Eero Paloheimo and Vice President Professor Kari Larjava are the Finnish Members of the project's advisory board. The idea of establishing a Finnish technology based EcoCity in China has been originally proposed by Professor Eero Paloheimo.

In spring 2007, VTT introduced the Finnish High-Tech EcoCity(r) concept in China. It includes innovative and ecological town planning, energy efficient housing and low-waste living, a closed water system, integrated telecommunications, low-emission passenger traffic, efficient waste management and recycling, and emission-free local energy production based on solar, wind and bio power.

The future EcoCity will be part of the current town and village structure. Planning, materials and structures in the renovation and infilling will conform to the principles of sustainable development. Consumption of materials and energy will be ecological and economical. Emissions will be kept to a minimum. The EcoCity will be a pleasant place to live, and it will offer excellent services in a clean and natural environment. The goal is to create people-friendly surroundings that suit all types of residents.

A Finnish-Chinese joint venture will be established for the construction of the MenTouGou District Ecocity. It will participate in the building of the EcoCity and produce locally some of the building materials needed in the construction.

VTT has established a spin-off company, Global EcoSolutions Oy, to implement EcoCity projects. Professor Reijo Kohonen has been appointed as the company's Managing Director.

The business idea of Global EcoSolutions Oy is to integrate and implement sustainable technologies in housing development projects worldwide. The company will work together with its local partner companies. The company is currently negotiating on EcoCity, energy and environmental technology projects in China, Central Europe, Romania and Russia.