China is undergoing rapid urbanization, with urban and rural construction expanding at an unprecedented scale. However, the energy efficiency and environmental performance of building materials remain generally poor, negatively impacting the ecological environment. As a result, green and energy-efficient building materials and construction technologies are gaining increasing attention.
Significantly, during this year’s National People’s Congress and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Premier Li Keqiang emphasized in his government work report the need to strengthen urban planning, construction, and management. He called for enhancing the scientific, authoritative, and transparent nature of urban planning and promoting the integration of multiple regulations. Construction will begin on over 2,000 kilometers of urban underground comprehensive pipe galleries. Efforts will also focus on actively promoting green buildings and materials, advancing steel structures and prefabricated buildings, and improving construction project standards and quality. The goal is to build smart cities, improve living environments, and make residents’ lives safer, more comfortable, and worry-free.
Additionally, last year the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development jointly launched the “Action Plan for Promoting the Production and Application of Green Building Materials”. The plan sets clear targets: by 2018, the production of green building materials should increase substantially, with significant improvements in quality. The application rate of green building materials in new constructions is expected to reach 30%, and the overall green building application rate 50%. This highlights a strong and growing focus on environmental protection within building technology.
Industry experts also note that the concept of “green building” is becoming a key driver for upgrading construction technology and transforming the building materials industry. Among green construction technologies, steel structure construction stands out as a potential emerging trend.
Steel structure construction offers several advantages, including labor savings, improved production efficiency, and guaranteed quality and functionality. Widespread adoption of steel structures in construction can effectively promote sustainable green building development, facilitate industrial restructuring, and help resolve excess steel production capacity, explained Sun Chengye, manager of Liaoning Yierju Residential Industrial Technology Co., Ltd. and patent holder of a “composite structure of steel and reinforced concrete for underground comprehensive pipe galleries,” in an interview with China National Economic News.
However, Sun Chengye pointed out that steel structures currently make up less than 1% of large-scale residential and bridge construction projects and are rarely used in urban underground pipe gallery construction. Given this year’s Government Work Report target to initiate over 2,000 kilometers of urban underground comprehensive pipe galleries, upgrading construction technologies for these galleries as a key element of “green building” is crucial.
Research and practical experience indicate that the most critical requirement for underground comprehensive pipe gallery buildings, compared to above-ground structures, is reliable and consistent waterproofing. Existing pipe gallery projects have yet to fully meet this demand, and current technologies need further improvement, Sun Chengye told reporters.
About four years ago, approximately 10 kilometers of underground power pipe galleries were constructed in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, primarily using reinforced concrete cast-in-place and prefabricated reinforced concrete technologies. Sun Chengye conducted on-site studies and inspections, which led him into this field and resulted in his patent for a composite steel and reinforced concrete structure. He is also involved in producing steel structures and precast concrete components. His technological innovations have earned high praise from industry stakeholders, and his company has collaborated with major enterprises such as MCC, actively participating in national public-private partnership (PPP) model comprehensive pipe gallery projects.
Sun Chengye’s example reflects broader trends within the construction industry, illustrating how the green building concept is gaining traction and maturing within the market.
Reporters have also found that several provinces and cities have begun implementing relevant policies. For instance, Yunnan Province recently issued the “Implementation Plan for Strengthening Energy Conservation Standardization in Yunnan Province”, mandating that government-funded public buildings, large public facilities, and affordable housing in Kunming fully comply with green building standards. Similarly, Zhejiang Province will enforce its Green Building Regulations starting May 1 of this year.
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