World Expo 2017, planned for Astana, Kazakhstan, calls for an expo village that rates triple net zero—zero net use of energy and water and zero net generation of landfill waste. Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS+GG) of Chicago won the international design competition for the village.
Energy consumed by the expo community will be provided from renewable sources. Buildings will become generators of power, and their energy will be stored using innovative technologies while being distributed by a smart grid.
Facilities to be built include exhibition halls, retail facilities, hotel space, a train station, parks, parking, and cultural facilities. There also will be 3,000 permanent housing units in buildings three to six stories tall.
Infrastructure built for the site’s cold, semi-arid climate will include a smart energy grid, a smart recycled water grid, an integrated waste management system, and inter-seasonal underground thermal energy storage.
(http://urbanland.uli.org/planning-design/expo-astana-2017/)
More from Author
Jim Young | Jan 16, 2014
West Point releases plan to achieve net zero campus-wide
The installation has an ambitious plan to move to 100% energy efficiency through several initiatives including more renewable energy production and energy efficiency retrofits.
Jim Young | Jan 2, 2014
Sacramento utility maintenance facility earns LEED Platinum, targets net zero
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s new maintenance facility, which is targeting net zero, has received LEED Platinum certification.
Jim Young | Dec 27, 2013
Grand Cancun to be first net-zero energy luxury eco-tourism resort
Using a marine platform concept instead of an artificial island, the development will create more space with less impact in the fragile marine ecosystem.
Jim Young | Dec 16, 2013
Irving, Texas building state’s second net-zero school
Lee Elementary School, scheduled to open in fall 2014, will be net-zero-ready, and if the school board decides to sell district bonds and allow the purchase of additional solar panels, will be a true net-zero facility.
Jim Young | Dec 9, 2013
Skaneateles, N.Y., converts old firehouse to net-zero village hall
The Finger Lakes village of Skaneateles, N.Y., renovated its vacant firehouse into Skaneateles Village Hall, the first municipal net-zero energy building in the state of New York.
Jim Young | Dec 2, 2013
Security is key component of Army’s net-zero assessment strategy
For the U.S. Army, creating secure sources of energy is an important driver for its net zero goals. Critical military missions are at a high risk of failure in the event of an electric grid failure, according to a Defense Science Board report.
Jim Young | Nov 25, 2013
New California codes moving state toward net-zero requirements
Under the new Title 24, all new residential construction must be net zero by 2020, with all new commercial buildings achieving this goal by 2030.
Jim Young | Nov 19, 2013
Net-zero senior housing project aimed at low-income residents in Virginia
A big driver to achieve net-zero was to offer affordable housing with reduced energy costs for low-income seniors.
Jim Young | Nov 11, 2013
New San Francisco 49ers stadium will achieve net zero thanks to 49 large solar panels
The installation of 49 large rooftop solar panels at the 49ers new stadium outside San Francisco will help the arena achieve net-zero energy use, according to NRG, the company that installed the panels.
Jim Young | Nov 5, 2013
Living Building Challenge clarifies net-zero definitions and standards
The Living Building Challenge has released the Net Zero Energy Building Certification to provide clearer definitions regarding what net zero really means and how it is to be achieved.
