China - Leading Global Growth

Feature Story:

Eastern Promise - focus on Chinese economy and Olympic Games

As China’s huge population becomes more affluent, the appetite of its aspiring millions for western-style consumer goods and products is increasing at a rate rarely seen in economic history. Chinese people want cars, washing machines, cookers, soft drinks and beer, to name just a few things – and they want them now. The country’s booming economy and its extraordinary demands for power offer massive opportunities. A good reason to look at some of the biggest growth areas in the Chinese economy and examine the painstaking preparations the country has made to host the biggest sporting show on earth.

China’s economy is the second largest in the world behind the United States with a GDP of
USD 7 trillion (2007) in terms of purchasing power and third largest in the world following Japan with a GDP of USD 3.42 trillion. With 20 per cent of the world’s population living in China and with its enormous natural resources, the country’s economy is set to continue the massive growth seen over the past 25 years.

Although China is still the world’s largest producer of rice and a major provider of other crops such as wheat, tobacco and cotton, the growth of the economy has been achieved by a gradual shift from agriculture to engineering and technology. Low-cost labor is probably still China’s greatest industrial asset, although investment in highly sophisticated production equipment is on the increase and will reinforce the country’s position as the world’s most successful industrial superpower ... Download the Magazine (below) to read the complete article

Olympic Success for GEA Ecoflex

Even before the Olympic Games have started GEA Ecoflex has beaten the opposition and bears the winner’s medal proudly. The contest: keep the athletes cool.

With daytime temperatures expected to rise above 40ºC in summer time Beijing, the athletes will feel the heat in every sense of the word. Yet GEA Ecoflex has provided an environmentally-sound answer that will keep them cool and the future residents of the Olympic Village comfortable all year round.

The Olympic Village will accommodate and provide training facilities for 17,200 athletes and officials during the Games in August and a further 7,000 during the Paralympics that follow a
month later, all on a site covering 66 hectares.

Throughout its construction ‘the environment’ has been the leading topic on the agenda. The builders used ‘green’ materials and adopted 36 projects to conserve energy and water and reduce pollution including: a rainwater collection system, special faucets in the restrooms that deliver instant hot water to prevent wastage, and a solar-powered water heating system located in the rooftop garden.

Another major project is to provide energy for air conditioning and heating using a reclaimed water source heat pump system that utilizes GEA Ecoflex heat exchangers. The system takes water from the Qinghe river, absorbs heat from the buildings in the summer then reuses it for heating during the winter months. The Beijing Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (BOCOG) says that the system provides the same amount of heat as burning 3,000 tons of coal in the winter, resulting in the avoidance of 7,200 tons of CO2 emissions, 123 tons of SO2 and nitrogen oxide emissions, four tons of CO (carbon monoxide) emissions and 33 tons of particle pollution. In the summer, the heat pump system is anticipated to result in energy savings of 40 per cent compared with ordinary air conditioning systems.

After the Games the village will serve as residential accommodation for Beijing commuters. It’s anticipated that the 6.7 million kWh of energy produced annually by the village’s combined renewable energy resources will save 26,000 tons of coal and prevent 67,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually.

GEA Ecoflex China, based in Shanghai, had been working with the client since early 2006 making numerous site visits to ensure completion by the immovable opening date.

The facility will serve as the Olympic Village from July 27 to August 28, then as the Paralympic Village until September 20. Of course the athletes won’t care how they are protected from the Beijing summer, they’ll just be pleased to get somewhere cool to relax. But in the future, when the long-term residents move in, they’ll appreciate how the GEA Ecoflex technology keeps them comfortable and helps to protect the environment, too.

GEA Ecoflex GmbH
Karl-Schiller-Str. 1 - 3
31157 Sarstedt
Germany

Tel. +49 (0) 5066 / 601 0
Fax: +49 (0) 5066 / 601 104
Website: www.gea-ecoflex.de
E-mail: info@gea-e coflex.de