Green buildings stand tall in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. [Photo/Baotou Daily]

Baotou in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region has been advancing its development as a zero-waste city, with efforts being made in the construction of low-carbon and green buildings, according to a report in Baotou Daily.

A zero-waste city is an advanced urban development and management model that aims to promote eco-friendly lifestyles, minimize waste, strengthen recycling programs and ensure that harmful waste is not released into the environment.

Green construction technology can reduce the environmental load of buildings; that is, save energy and resources and provide a safe, healthy and comfortable living space. 

Green buildings photographed in a community in Qingshan district in Baotou, Inner Mongolia [Photo/baotounews.com.cn]

The development of green buildings and the implementation of green construction methods are an important way to develop a zero-waste city.

The number and area of green buildings in Baotou have increased year by year, from 29 buildings covering a total of 401,000 square meters in 2016, to 378 covering 3.82 million sq m in 2018.

By 2019, the number of green buildings that had passed the construction drawings review in the city had reached 5.09 million sq m, accounting for more than 40 percent of new buildings. The green buildings that have obtained the green building label reached 1.53 million sq m.

This year, all new residential buildings in Baotou city will fully meet the green building standards.

Among them, high standard green buildings in Hondlon, Qingshan, Jiuyuan and Donghe districts, and in Baotou Rare Earth High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, account for 20 percent of the newly-built areas.