Sustainability Report
Embodied carbon
While the Yangzheng Library demonstrates outstanding performance in operational energy, there is no published assessment of its embodied carbon. The reuse of traditional materials, such as 100-year-old roof tiles for outdoor paving, and a compact, efficient design, indicate consideration for the building’s lifecycle impact.
Operational Emissions / Energy
The Yangzheng Library maximises both energy efficiency and a reduction in environmental impact through a number of sustainable solutions.
Renewable energy
- Installation of 80 rooftop solar panels, each with a capacity of 600 W: total photovoltaic system power generation is 48kWp.
- Installation of two on-site wind turbines, each with a capacity of 5,000 W: total capacity is 10kW.
- 100 percent energy self-sufficiency, with all electricity generated on-site.
- The library generates 67,638 kWh of electricity annually, meeting 172 percent of its energy needs and supplying surplus energy to the community.
High-performance insulation and passive design
- 180 mm of graphite-enhanced polystyrene insulation on external walls achieves a U-value of 0.17 W/㎡·K.
- 230 mm of graphite-enhanced polystyrene insulation on the roof achieves a U-value of 0.14 W/㎡·K.
- 110 mm of graphite-enhanced polystyrene insulation on the ground floor achieves a U-value of 0.25 W/㎡·K.
These results meet high-performance standards for thermal efficiency. In addition, critical thermal bridge treatment ensures consistent insulation across junctions and edges, preventing heat loss and supporting the building’s ultra-low U-values.
Natural lighting and ventilation
- Deep eaves and a second-floor courtyard provide ample natural light, while also preventing excessive direct sunlight.
- In spring and autumn, the windows on the west-facing reading rooms are opened to allow for passive ventilation.
- In other reading rooms, larger windows increase the amount of natural daylight.
The building reduces its carbon emissions by approximately 35 tonnes annually.
Yangzheng Library is certified a Zero-Carbon Building by the China Association for Building Energy Efficiency.
