Huang Ming, president of the Himin Group, admits frankly to the obstacles ahead: “The cost of photovoltaic power generation is too high, over 10 or 20 times that of solar heaters. Therefore, the Sun-Moon Mansion mainly uses thermal collectors instead of photovoltaics.”

A Five-star Green Mansion

The mansion is armed with green technologies head to toe, inside and out. For instance, the glass developed by Himin is essentially an insulating and sound-proofing skin that inhibits frost or dew formation. Many other technologies and devices work behind the scenes, including the thermal insulation of its non-transparent outer walls, the ceiling heating and cooling technology, the aquitard (an underground system that restricts the flow of groundwater from one aquifer to another), all-season energy storage technology, and the marriage of solar and GSHP (ground source heat pump) technology. Making full use of multiple energy-saving approaches, the mansion has broken the long-standing barrier to reducing the huge energy consumption common in conventional buildings.

The Micro-emission International Hotel, which has 500-odd guestrooms, gets kudos for earning its green stripes as well as for its five-star facilities and services. Each guest is supplied with a brochure enumerating the ways in which the hotel is environmentally friendly: those are water and electricity conservation, lighting and ventilation, choice of building materials and guest services, all putting the designation “green hotel” well within their reach.

Huang Ming said, “Solar products are energy-saving products, but are boycotted because of their failure to fit seamlessly into buildings. As a solar products addict, I am obliged to take the lead in designing and making an example of solar building, so as to attract more people to energy-saving undertakings. The Sun-Moon Micro-emission Mansion is unique and beautiful. Many drivers exit the expressway just to get a closer look at it. People’s new impressions of rooftop solar products will greatly accelerate the progress of solar-powered building. I hope the “Solar Bird’s Nest” and the Solar Valley in Dezhou will become a Mecca for new energy the world over.”