Source: https://www.must.edu.mo/cn/fie/news/51644-article0601172837-c

The international seminar on "Enhance Building Energy Efficiency, Support Low-Carbon Development" was held on 29th May in the Room 702 of Block O at Macau University of Science and Technology. The conference focused on how to improve the operational efficiency of buildings and reduce building carbon emissions under the context of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. Experts and scholars from the Chinese Mainland, Japan, and Macao were invited to deliver keynote speeches, followed by interactive exchanges with industry representatives and students in Macao.

The seminar was organized by the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering of the Faculty of Innovation Engineering, Macau University of Science and Technology, and co-hosted by the China Green Building and Energy Saving (Macau) Association. Dr. Ma Yibing, Director of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Director of the National Field Science Observatory for Coastal Ecological Environment in Macau, and Director of the Macau Environmental Research Institute, emphasized three key points for the building industry to achieve carbon emission reduction: improving energy efficiency, achieving zero carbon emissions, and utilizing negative carbon technologies. To achieve green building and complete carbon neutrality, attention must be given to the entire life carbon cycle of the building. Dr. Ma then introduced the continuous efforts made by the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at MUST to achieve China's "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" goals, and expected that through this conference, fruitful exchanges and collaboration with various sectors of society could be achieved to support low-carbon development.

President Zhuo Zhongxian of the China Green Building and Energy Saving (Macau) Association stated in his address: General Secretary Xi Jinping mentioned at the Central Economic Work Conference in 2021 that 'achieving the "dual carbon" target is not something others ask us to do, but something we must do ourselves,' highlighting the sense of responsibility and role of a major country. Macau, as a city primarily based on tourism, mainly consumes energy through electricity consumption, accounting for 56% of the total energy consumption in Macau. In the structure of electricity consumption, commercial electricity consumption accounts for 71%, with most of it consumed by large buildings. Therefore, in this context, the task of carbon reduction in the construction sector in Macau is urgent.

In the special lecture session, Foreign Academician of the Engineering Academy of Japan Gao Weijun delivered a speech on Urban Renewal and Low-Carbon Construction in Japan. The Low-Carbon City Planning Guidelines in Japan state that the goal is to achieve intensification, diversification, symbiosis with nature, energy efficiency, and environmental harmony in three major aspects: transportation and urban structure, energy utilization, and urban greening. This has important reference significance for the low-carbon construction development in Macau.

Wang Youwei, China Green Building Council of CSUS and former Vice President of the China Academy of Building Research, delivered a keynote speech on "Key Issues in Carbon Practice and Carbon Neutrality Practice." The current weakness in China is energy, so it is necessary to establish an independent and self-reliant energy system. Electrification is a key approach to drive green and low-carbon transformation of energy and help achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. In addition, deepening international cooperation, optimizing and adjusting the domestic industrial structure, and improving ecological environment quality are also of great significance for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality efforts.

Professor Ge Jian from the School of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University, presented the latest progress of the research project titled "Improvement of Building Operational Energy Efficiency and Health Performance Based on Carbon Emission Reduction throughout the Whole Life Cycle of Buildings." He provided a brief report on ten key research outcomes and demonstration projects, further promoting the high-quality development of the project.

Subsequently, Professor Liu Nianxiong from the School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Associate Director Guo Zhenwei from the CSUS Green Building Research Center, Associate Professor Dong Yahong from the Department of Environmental and Engineering of Macau University of Science and Technology, and Chairman Li Jiaxing of China GBC Macau shared their topics on data-supported building design, improving urban resilience, the entire life cycle of buildings, and tailored carbon reduction measures according to local conditions, respectively.