Green Village

The village won't be a huge drain on energy resources or the environment since it is installed with energy-conserving and environmental-friendly facilities.

A living room of a unit in the Olympic Village is seen in this photo taken on March 5, 2008. The Organizing Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad (BOCOG) unveiled the village to the press on Wednesday. [Xinhua]

Solar power will help cut carbon dioxide emissions by 8,000 tons during the Games. Also, solar energy generators will be responsible for heating 90 percent of the water used for showers and baths.

Although solar power is good for the environment, it is not wasted either. Double-glazed Low-E glass will keep the room temperature in each bedroom down to decrease power consumption. In addition, the floors and the building walls use insulation.

A photographer takes photos of a bathroom in the Olympic Village March 5, 2008. Each unit has three bedrooms which accommodate six athletes. [chinadaily.com.cn]

After the Games, these hi-tech facilities will be left for residential use and will produce about 6,700 kwh of solar power per year, the same amount of energy obtained from burning 26,000 tons of coal.

Also water won't be a burden on the dry city, as 200 tons of water for landscaping will be recycled from the domestic wastewater and rainwater within the Village every day through biological sewage treatment.

Real estate hotspot

With the city's central location, modern design and sports stars as former residents, the Olympic Village will be highly-desirable property for those who are lucky enough to have already secured a unit.