Yucun Impression, located in Huzhou's Anji county, receives the LEED platinum certification. [Photo/hz66.com]

Yucun Impression, located in Huzhou's Anji county, has been recognized as China's first rural carbon-neutral building, receiving the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) platinum certification.

This remarkable feat was celebrated at the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection held in Beijing. Situated in Anji's Yucun village, the complex was renovated from an old factory and consists of a library and an exhibition hall.

With its distinctive golden key-like appearance, it symbolizes the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets", representing a bridge between economic development and environmental preservation. Yucun village is recognized as the birthplace of the green development philosophy.

Zhou Haizhu, director of the Urban and Rural Planning Institute at the China Academy of Building Research, explained that the building achieves exceptional energy efficiency through AI optimization and utilizes rooftop solar power to offset carbon emissions.

Through its operation, this eco-friendly building can reduce carbon emissions by 28.58 metric tons annually, effectively neutralizing the hidden carbon emissions associated with the production, transportation, construction, and disposal of building materials. By its 5th year of operation (2027), the building is expected to achieve carbon neutrality, with a total carbon emissions reduction of 4.68 tons. Throughout its 50-year lifecycle, it will operate as a carbon-negative structure, with a projected total carbon emission reduction of 933.75 tons.

On Dec 20, 2022, Yucun Impression received China's first platinum-level carbon-neutral building certification. Now, it has gained further international recognition by obtaining the LEED platinum certification, reinforcing China's commitment to rural carbon-neutral practices.

During the conference, an inspiring campaign was launched by 10 villages in Anji, aiming to promote the integration of green and low-carbon development with rural vitalization.