The Low Carbon Benefits Of Urban Underground Space

The world today is increasingly facing challenges from climate change. As most obvious representations, glaciers are melting away, sea level keeps rising and volcanoes become more and more active. Thus, low carbon development is made strategic developing goal for enterprises, governments and organizations around the world as we often attribute this phenomenon to increased human-caused carbon dioxide and other green house gases emissions. Cities need land to expand, however, land is infinite, and always limited, especially in a fast developing country like China. As a result, using underground spaces beneath the earth is a very effective way for cities in China to develop. In addition, underground spaces outweigh over-ground spaces in terms of low carbon performance because it saves energy use many aspects including architecture, transportation, infrastructure and new energy sources. Therefore, taking the most advantages of underground spaces in an appropriate, scientific, reasonable and economical way is no doubt the No.1 choice for cities in China.The thesis tries to explore the strengths of underground space in low carbon development from its function, purpose and utilization aspects. Through the case of East Zhengzhou underground space planning, it examines the merits of underground buildings, transportation and infrastructure in urban landscape, environmental protection and disaster planning in terms of low carbon technologies. In section 4, the author suggests several low carbon technologies be beneficial to underground space planning and construction and points out some problems that may occur during the process. Moreover, application details and advise are raised in order to fully fulfill the low carbon development goal. China is undergoing the beginning phase of low carbon city development, hopefully through the discussion in the thesis, a more practical developing model and technological advancing direction can be raised in order to help achieve sustainable development and a harmonious low carbon society.