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City works together to keep cool this summer
By Shi Jinhua |
July 30, 2009, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HOT, hot, hot! The city of Hangzhou has felt as though it was stuck inside an active volcano for the past few weeks. With the temperature soaring to more than 39 degrees Celsius on a few occasions, Hangzhou is in the midst of one of its hottest summers ever.
Only in 1978, 2003 and 2007 has the city seen such hot temperatures. It is estimated that Hangzhou will have 35-40 days with the mercury topping 35 degrees this summer, surpassing the city's average by about 15 days - and it's not even the end of July.
Some government departments have pledged joint efforts to help residents cope with the heat.
One way is to ensure an adequate power supply, which means residents and commercial businesses can crank up air conditioners.
"The fight against the heat wave has just begun," said Wang Guoping, Party secretary of the Communist Party of China Hangzhou Committee. "We must take measures to secure power supply. By all means we will give top priority to the interests of our citizens."
According to the Hangzhou Electric Power Bureau, the total air-conditioning load has exceeded 2.5 million kilowatts, accounting for one-third of the total power load. During weekdays, the peak hours for power usually occur between noon and 2pm, and 9:30pm and 10:30pm. Due to the increasing demand from residents, the power-grid load increases by a big margin during those periods.
To cope with the problem, the Hangzhou Economic Commission has proposed that thermal power enterprises extend working hours until midnight while other enterprises avoid peak hours between 7pm and 11pm.
Apart from that, saving power is equally important.
Wang said: "Government departments must take the lead in showing the community how to save electricity."
The city recommended that air conditioners be set to 26 degrees Celsius or above during the summer and that central air conditioners shouldn't stay on for 24 hours.
It also suggested that electrical appliances not be left on stand-by mode, which consumes lots of electricity.
Meanwhile, since rainfall was less than average during the rainy season earlier this summer, Hangzhou faces water pressures.
Water pressure
The water supply capacity reached 1.362 million tons on July 9, topping the record of 1.347 million tons set in 2005. Some water utilities are working under overload conditions and several clear-water reservoirs have reported emergencies.
But overall, water pressure has been alleviated through the joint effort of government departments.
The scorching hot weather has also had an impact on Hangzhou's food supply.
Cheng Chunjian, director-general of the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Agriculture, said: "Since livestock respond to heat stress by slowing down their metabolism, the output is on the decline. Besides, pathogenic bacteria breed in a hot environment, thus increasing the chance of diseases spreading."
Additionally, the heat wave may take a toll on crops.
Preliminary statistics suggest that drought-stricken areas will reach 20,000 hectares.
If the temperature climbs above 35 degrees Celsius for another 20 days, the figure will climb to nearly 85,000 hectares.
A group of drought-resistance experts has been dispatched to the fields, offering help to farmers. Meanwhile, vegetables from plateau cities such as Lanzhou in Gansu Province have been brought to Hangzhou to boost supply.
Hangzhou is proud of its beautiful scenery. But this summer, the scorching weather is undoubtedly a severe test for the city.
The management department will constantly check the main streets and parks, watering plants and creating shade nets if necessary.
Furthermore, in order to help the vulnerable overcome the heat, the government has introduced the Spring Wind Project from July 20 to the end of the month.
The government allocated 5 million yuan (US$732,515) to help about 100,000 local needy families.
Party cadres will visit every family and send the allowance directly to them. Each family is expected to get 500 yuan.
In orphanages and homes for the aged, cool soybean soup and ice cream will be provided when the temperature tops 35 degrees. For construction workers, showers and 10,201 air conditioners have been set up in 683 government-invested constructions.
An official said that construction sites must stop working between 11am and 3pm, with salaries and allowances not being cut due to the shorter working hours.
Besides, plenty of cool water and first-aid medicine should always be available for the workers, the official added.
Such policies will also be adopted in some other fields. For instance, mechanical street sweepers will be mainly utilized during the hottest hours and frontline workers will stagger hours to avoid the heat.
Only in 1978, 2003 and 2007 has the city seen such hot temperatures. It is estimated that Hangzhou will have 35-40 days with the mercury topping 35 degrees this summer, surpassing the city's average by about 15 days - and it's not even the end of July.
Some government departments have pledged joint efforts to help residents cope with the heat.
One way is to ensure an adequate power supply, which means residents and commercial businesses can crank up air conditioners.
"The fight against the heat wave has just begun," said Wang Guoping, Party secretary of the Communist Party of China Hangzhou Committee. "We must take measures to secure power supply. By all means we will give top priority to the interests of our citizens."
According to the Hangzhou Electric Power Bureau, the total air-conditioning load has exceeded 2.5 million kilowatts, accounting for one-third of the total power load. During weekdays, the peak hours for power usually occur between noon and 2pm, and 9:30pm and 10:30pm. Due to the increasing demand from residents, the power-grid load increases by a big margin during those periods.
To cope with the problem, the Hangzhou Economic Commission has proposed that thermal power enterprises extend working hours until midnight while other enterprises avoid peak hours between 7pm and 11pm.
Apart from that, saving power is equally important.
Wang said: "Government departments must take the lead in showing the community how to save electricity."
The city recommended that air conditioners be set to 26 degrees Celsius or above during the summer and that central air conditioners shouldn't stay on for 24 hours.
It also suggested that electrical appliances not be left on stand-by mode, which consumes lots of electricity.
Meanwhile, since rainfall was less than average during the rainy season earlier this summer, Hangzhou faces water pressures.
Water pressure
The water supply capacity reached 1.362 million tons on July 9, topping the record of 1.347 million tons set in 2005. Some water utilities are working under overload conditions and several clear-water reservoirs have reported emergencies.
But overall, water pressure has been alleviated through the joint effort of government departments.
The scorching hot weather has also had an impact on Hangzhou's food supply.
Cheng Chunjian, director-general of the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Agriculture, said: "Since livestock respond to heat stress by slowing down their metabolism, the output is on the decline. Besides, pathogenic bacteria breed in a hot environment, thus increasing the chance of diseases spreading."
Additionally, the heat wave may take a toll on crops.
Preliminary statistics suggest that drought-stricken areas will reach 20,000 hectares.
If the temperature climbs above 35 degrees Celsius for another 20 days, the figure will climb to nearly 85,000 hectares.
A group of drought-resistance experts has been dispatched to the fields, offering help to farmers. Meanwhile, vegetables from plateau cities such as Lanzhou in Gansu Province have been brought to Hangzhou to boost supply.
Hangzhou is proud of its beautiful scenery. But this summer, the scorching weather is undoubtedly a severe test for the city.
The management department will constantly check the main streets and parks, watering plants and creating shade nets if necessary.
Furthermore, in order to help the vulnerable overcome the heat, the government has introduced the Spring Wind Project from July 20 to the end of the month.
The government allocated 5 million yuan (US$732,515) to help about 100,000 local needy families.
Party cadres will visit every family and send the allowance directly to them. Each family is expected to get 500 yuan.
In orphanages and homes for the aged, cool soybean soup and ice cream will be provided when the temperature tops 35 degrees. For construction workers, showers and 10,201 air conditioners have been set up in 683 government-invested constructions.
An official said that construction sites must stop working between 11am and 3pm, with salaries and allowances not being cut due to the shorter working hours.
Besides, plenty of cool water and first-aid medicine should always be available for the workers, the official added.
Such policies will also be adopted in some other fields. For instance, mechanical street sweepers will be mainly utilized during the hottest hours and frontline workers will stagger hours to avoid the heat.
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