Beijing 2008 – Green, Smoke Free, Safer Police Cars

At the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games Olympic venues and facilities would make full use of new energy sources, said Tian Maijiu, deputy director of the Standing Committee of Beijing Municipal People’s Congress.

Wind power will generate 20 per cent of the electricity supply for the venues, and terrestrial heat and hot pump technology will provide central heating and air conditioning in a 400,000 square metre area.

About 80 to 90 per cent of the street lamps will use solar power, which will also heat 90 per cent of bath water said Tian. “Beijing is aware of the environmental and economic benefits of new and renewable energy, and has already mapped out related development plans”, he said,

The city is also building several large recycling projects to upgrade its energy saving and environmental protection capability. Two large refuse incineration plans, two comprehensive refuse-processing plants, and one disposal centre for “dangerous” wastes are under construction.

Beijing also plans to recycle 1.2 million obsolete and old electrical household appliances within a year, said Tian.

According to Tian the municipal government fully supports key projects by offering direct investment or interest-free loans.

Meanwhile a health ministry official said Monday that China plans to organize a “non-smoking” Olympics, admitting that changing the habits of 350 million smokers would be difficult.

China will enforce a ban on smoking in public places, with those places that offer services to children a top concern. According to the Xinhua news agency Zhang Bin said, “smoking will be banned at all Olympic designated hospitals by the end of 2007”.

Also, Beijing police will be sent back to driving school, reports the state media. By the end of next year 10,000 police will be given driving safety training and 1,500 will be taught high-speed manoeuvres to complement cars that will be customized.

The Beijing Times reports a police academy official as saying, “the (cars) will have anti-rolling capacity, racing seats and other safety systems”.

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