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Songdo Striving To Showcase ‘Green City’

Songdo

Songdo, an International business town has emerged and established itself as a model for low carbon, green growth. The Songdo Central Park is located in Songdo (it is an international business district within Incheon). Approximately, 32% of Songdo’s land has been designated for developing the ‘Green Area’ in the district. The district plans to invite the delegates of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from Oct. 18 to 20 in its bid to host the headquarters of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The Story of Songdo becoming a ‘Green City’

Songdo, since its inception in the year 2003 has made constant efforts to implement ‘Green Policies’. As quoted by Han Tae-il, director general of the environment and forestry bureau in Incheon, “Nature is one of the unique characteristics that Songdo can proudly represent”. He also said that “We’ve come up with a plan to provide a green environment for people even before the central government announced the ‘low-carbon, green growth policy in 2008”. The district has about 1500 acres of  land, out of which nearly 32% has been developed as ‘Green Area’. The Central Park that has been developed in the district is quite on the lines of the Green Park based in New York city.

About the Songdo Central Park

The park largely emulates the park made in New York city. It has a total area of 101 acres and also a man made water way. The water way is channeled from the West Sea Off the port city of  Icheon. This man made water way plays an important role in cutting out the ‘urban heat island effect’ which is quite common is areas populated with tall buildings. This water way also facilitates a drop in electricity usage in the city by nearly 10 per cent during the summer season. The waterway also helps in reducing the usage of air-conditioners and fans. As a result the amount of greenhouse gas emissions is reduced by nearly 14,000 tonnes. Because of the waterway it has been possible to run water taxis and connoes along the waterway for commuters and tourists. This facilitates economic benefits as well as a beautiful view of sky scapers built around the park.

Buildings in Songdo District

The buildings in Songdo are designed in a manner such that the usage of fossil fuels is reduced to quite a large extent. Quite a lot of buildings in Songdo have adopted to green energy systems like solar paneled roofs which facilitate reduced usage of fossil fuels. 9 buildings in Songdo have won the ‘Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design’ certificate issued by the U.S. Green Building Council. Besides these 9 buildings, 75 other buildings have been designated as ‘Eco-Friendly Structures’ by the central government. Most of the buildings in Songdo have rooftop gardens with trees & flowers to provide a green rest area to its employees. The Building Council that has awarded certificates to 9 buildings in Songdo has its headquarters based out of Washington D.C.  The organization has rated the buildings on parameters like its design, construction and operation.

A housing complex by the name Prau II has installed a thermal energy system to save energy and this help the residents of the complex to save nearly 40% of the maintenance expenses annually. The underground parking lots in the city use solar energy.

Future Goals

  •   The district administration has target of replacing nearly 30% of street lamps in the district with LED lamps in order to conserve energy.
  •   A sewage recycling system also known as ‘Pneumatic Waste Collection System’ probably one of the largest in the world has been installed. This will help reusing nearly 40% of waste water and 76% of other waste material.
  • The city has a target of reducing carbon emissions to 38% below projected levels by 2020.

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