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Promoting green transformation and empowering sustainable development
With the intensification of global climate change and the scarcity of energy resources, energy conservation and emission reduction have become core national development strategies. The Shenzhen Municipal Standard for Energy-Saving Design of Public Buildings (SJG 44-2025), which will be implemented on October 1, 2025, is not only a significant milestone in the technological upgrading of the construction industry, but also a crucial measure for achieving the national "dual carbon" goals, promoting high-quality economic development, and improving social well-being. This article analyzes its profound significance from three aspects: the current national situation, economic needs, and social demands.
I. Current National Situation: Addressing Energy Challenges and Contributing to the Achievement of "Dual Carbon" Goals
Energy consumption and carbon emission pressure
Building energy consumption accounts for more than 20% of my country's total energy consumption. Public buildings, due to their large size and concentrated energy use, have become a significant source of carbon emissions. Currently, the country is making every effort to achieve the goal of "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality," and the upgrading of energy-saving standards for public buildings directly responds to this strategic need. The new standards, by strictly controlling the thermal performance of the building envelope, improving equipment energy efficiency, and mandating the application of renewable energy sources (such as solar energy and air source heat pumps), will significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions during building operation, providing technical support for the low-carbon transformation of cities.
Deepening the implementation of policies and regulations
The new standard seamlessly integrates with the "General Specification for Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Utilization in Buildings" (GB 55015) and further refines local requirements. For example, it requires that the carbon emission intensity of newly constructed public buildings be reduced by 40% compared to the 2016 standard, and clarifies the tiered indicators for renewable energy utilization rates (e.g., utilization rate ≥15% when building height ≤24m). This not only fills the gap in local standards but also promotes the precise implementation of national energy conservation regulations.
II. Economic Demand: Stimulating Industrial Upgrading and Cultivating New Growth Drivers
Drive the development of green industrial chains
The new standard sets forth clear requirements for high-efficiency air conditioning systems, intelligent control technologies, and photovoltaic integrated design, forcing the traditional building industry to transform towards green and intelligent technologies. For example, the energy efficiency requirement for air conditioning and refrigeration room systems has been raised to 5.0-5.5 (Table 5.2.11), which will drive market demand for high-efficiency equipment such as chillers and variable frequency pumps, and promote the research and development and industrial application of energy-saving technologies.
Reduce long-term operating costs
Operating energy consumption accounts for 70% to 80% of the total life-cycle cost of public buildings. The new standard can significantly reduce electricity costs through optimized design (such as natural ventilation and shading measures) and improved equipment energy efficiency. For example, a Grade 5A office building in Shenzhen is expected to see an annual energy saving rate increase of 15% to 20% after adopting the new standard, resulting in significant economic benefits.
Promoting green finance and market mechanisms
The standard requires large public buildings to connect to energy management systems and reserve interfaces for virtual power plants, providing a data foundation for the application of financial instruments such as carbon trading and green credit. In the future, buildings with excellent energy-saving performance can obtain additional revenue through carbon quota trading, forming a virtuous cycle of "energy saving-revenue".
III. Social Needs: Improving the living environment and enhancing people's well-being
Improve indoor environmental quality
The new standard not only focuses on energy conservation but also enhances comfort through measures such as noise control and optimized fresh air volume. For example, clause 5.1.7 requires outdoor air conditioning units to avoid airflow interference and reduce equipment operating noise; clause 4.3.3 strengthens the airtightness of exterior windows (level 7 is required for buildings with more than 10 floors) to reduce external noise penetration. These measures will significantly improve the acoustic environment in offices, medical facilities, and educational institutions, enhancing users' health experience.
Responding to the public's demand for green living
With increasing environmental awareness, society's demand for green buildings is becoming more and more urgent. The new standard requires public buildings to install photovoltaic systems and rainwater harvesting facilities, and promotes natural lighting technologies such as light guide devices, so as to deeply integrate energy conservation with aesthetics and functionality. For example, buildings with stable hot water demand, such as hotels and hospitals, should give priority to the use of solar energy systems (Article 8.1.1), which not only reduces energy consumption, but also creates a green image and enhances public recognition.
Promoting sustainable urban development
As a megacity, Shenzhen has a dense concentration of public buildings and a pronounced urban heat island effect. The new standard effectively mitigates the heat island effect and improves the microclimate through measures such as limiting the window-to-wall ratio, mandating shading designs, and promoting rooftop greening (Article 4.3.5). Meanwhile, regulations on electric vehicle charging facilities (Article 6.2.8) and intelligent lighting control (Article 6.4.8) contribute to the construction of a smart city and enhance urban resilience.
Leading the future with standards, writing a new chapter of green development
The implementation of the "Standard for Energy-Saving Design of Public Buildings" (SJG 44-2025) is a joint choice made by national will, economic laws, and social needs. It not only sets the technological baseline for green development in the construction industry but also promotes the transformation of cities from "high-energy-consumption expansion" to "high-quality symbiosis" through systematic innovation. In the future, with the full implementation of the standard, public buildings will become the main force in energy conservation and emission reduction, a testing ground for green technologies, and a carrier of a better life, providing a "Shenzhen model" of sustainable development for the whole country and even the world.