China Construction Fourth Engineering Division Corp's headquarters building in Tianhe district recently achieved a significant milestone by receiving the gold-level carbon-neutral building certification by passing the review of the China Society for Urban Studies and the International WELL Building Institute.

This recognition marks it as the first gold-level carbon-neutral skyscraper in the country.

Starting construction on April 17, 2022, the building has 36 floors on the ground and three floors underground, with a total height of 176 meters and spanning a combined floorage of about 104,000 square meters. Its construction was fully completed at the end of September.

China Construction Fourth Engineering Division Corp's headquarters building in Tianhe district. [Photo by Su Junjie/Guangzhou Daily]

According to Li Hangyu, the project design management department manager, "Once completed, the project is expected to save 4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 2,090 metric tons, equivalent to the carbon absorption of 550,000 trees."

The project pioneers the integration of solar chimneys and cool alleys in a skyscraper, maximizing natural ventilation. It incorporates efficient cooling systems, total heat recovery for fresh air, intelligent lighting systems, and energy-efficient elevators to reduce energy use.

On the building's rooftop and curtain wall's lateral decorative wings, it applies photovoltaic power generation systems, which can generate 650,000 kWh annually and reduce carbon emissions by 350 tons annually.

Featuring a smart IoT system, it also enables visualized smart management and AI-optimized energy control.