Beijing, China
Tsinghua University opened its $32.5-million (260 million yuan) Environmental Science and Engineering Department building in Beijing, China in summer of 2006. Designed by Italian architect Mario Cucinella, the facility features advanced energy-saving technologies including a sunshade with an intelligent control system that automatically adjusts its direction based on the sun's intensity and ceases operations when the building is unoccupied. Powered entirely by natural gas, the heat produced by the gas generator is reclaimed for winter heating and to power the ceiling cooling pipes in the building's interior. At 40 meters high, the C-shaped 20,000 square meter facility could use 70 percent less energy than a comparatively sized building.
