Overlooking the kindergarten, a large number of solar energy equipment can be seen on the roofs of the buildings.(Photo/scol.com.cn)

One of the rooms with the rain recycle equipment in the basement of the kindergarten.(Photo/scol.com.cn)

The light guide illuminating system on the roof.(Photo/scol.com.cn)

The floor drain to collect rainwater under the lawn.(Photo/scol.com.cn)

The first low-carbon kindergarten in Sichuan province will open by the end of 2015.

"As long as the natural light is normal in the daytime, the lights in the rooms on the second floor don't need to be turned on," Ye Xiulin, the head of the kindergarten told the reporter. The rooms without lights on rely on the light guide illuminating systems on the roof.

Besides, the kindergarten uses four systems to realize the low-carbon goals: ground source heat pump (GSHP) system, solar domestic hot water system, fresh air heat recovery system and rainwater collection system.

The GSHP system is the most important system of the program. Several meters away from the main building, more than 160 pipes go straight to more than 40 meters deep underground. "The heat or cold energy is transferred through these pipes, which can achieve the effect of traditional air conditioning," Ye Xiulin said. In principle, the kindergarten doesn’t need air conditioning during its operation.

Overlooking the kindergarten, a large number of solar energy equipment is seen on the roof. "The solar energy can support the use of domestic hot water in the daytime, and the maximum temperature could reach 70 degrees centigrade," Ye Xiulin said.

"This program is designed in accordance with the national two-star standards for green buildings. Compared with buildings without energy-saving measures, the yearly total energy consumption of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and illumination in the kindergarten will reduce by more than 50 percent," Ye Xiulin said.

This article was edited and translated from 《四川首个低碳幼儿园年底开园 不开空调也可冬暖夏凉》, source: Sichuan Daily, author: Tian Wei.