GROUND source heat pumps, intelligent traffic systems, low-carbon roadways and water purification systems are key elements in efforts by Jiading New Town to create an energy-efficient and eco-friendly lifestyle.

It's a process of embracing the advanced technologies of the future, rehabilitating older structures and recycling materials that can be incorporated in a greener environment.

The development of an urban best practices area outside the World Expo is in full swing in Jiading.

The district deserves its reputation as an ecological town, with 18 lakes and a four-kilometer-long central park.

The ecological development of the Yuanxiang Lake project is one of four top landscaping efforts under way in Jiading. The project comprises eight different areas of the town, covering 60.89 hectares - about half of it water. Excavation on the first stage, a 25-hectare water area to the west of the Huyi Highway, is scheduled to be completed at the end of this month.

The Yuanxiang Lake project is perhaps most remarkable for its plant diversity, with a wide variety of vegetation planted around the lake to maintain a balance in nature.

Jiading will be a scenic delight the year round. In spring, magnolias, Chinese roses and white lilacs will be in bloom. Lotus flowers will mark summers, the fragrant aroma of osmanthus will dominate in the autumn, followed by wintersweet in the colder months.

The Urban Planning Exhibition Center in Jiading New Town is located at the intersection of Yining and Yongshen roads. The center was formerly a dilapidated factory, which has been transformed into a multifunctional civic building. Its solar panels, ground source heat pumps and double-layer glass curtain walls herald Jiading's ambitions to become a model for the cities of tomorrow.

One of the impressive technologies deployed in the center is the ground source heat pump, an energy-efficient central air conditioning system. The system heats and cools the building through the use of ground water, which can regulate the indoor temperature as it flows through rooms in specially designed pipes. Compared with traditional systems, groundwater heat pumps can save up to five tons of water and 100 kilowatts of electricity every day.

Solar heating is another major innovation used in the center. Sun power is tapped to heat several tons of water a day, for use in kitchens and restrooms. The heaters are connected to water tanks installed with temperature-control devices. They maintain a uniform temperature water supply throughout the building. The solar heating system is designed to save 500 liters of diesel oil, at savings of up to 3,290 yuan (US$484) a day.

Using hydrophytes, or aquatic plants, to purify water - a new technology demonstrated at the World Expo in the Chengdu Flowing Water Park, will be adapted for use in Jiading New Town in the near future.

To test the new system, a 1.5-kilometer tributary in Yuangxiang Lake Park has been equipped with hydrophyte purifications. The 2-hectare wetland is able to purify poorer quality water flowing along into the irrigation system. The amount of the water purified can reach up to 1,200 tons a day, more than enough to satisfy the irrigation demand of surrounding plants.

Moreover, in order to improve the quality of the river, water collection and central water treatment systems have also been installed in the scenic spot of Ziqidonglai. The two systems also reduce sediment buildup in the river.

The system can collect 13,000 cubic meters of rainfall from an area of 20,000 square meters. The water is then purified for use in the gardens and lakes.

Rehabilitating rundown old factories has also become an integral part of Jiading's urban planning process. Using the revamped Urban Planning Exhibition Center as a model, the old Rinaiben factory is next on the list. It will be transformed into a 12,000-square-meter complex housing a youth center, a technology center and an exhibition hall. The old Haoshi Food factory is also earmarked for redevelopment.

Recyling old into new will also involve reusing bricks and tiles when upgrading areas such as the Green Bamboo Pond Park and Dongyunjie Scenic Zone. Bricks from old buildings have been collected and stored for use.

Linze Road in Jiading will become the district's first low-carbon roadway. Already one kilometer of the street has been paved in mild drainage bitumen and the sidewalks have been recast in permeable slag bricks.

The temperature of mild drainage bitumen is up to 60 degrees Celsius lower than hot bitumen. The water permeable bricks will help offset the effects of urban heat islands and drain water more efficiently when it rains. The bricks also absorb more noise than traditional pavers.

Recycled glass is also being used in street paving material, which makes for a tougher hardness and longer durability. The process is the product of a partnership between the district government and a private company.

Other innovations abound in Jiading New Town. For example, Gongjiabang Bridge on Yuming South Road is the first bridge without expansion joints in Shanghai. The technique used helps extend the life of bridges while reducing construction and maintenance costs.

The central district of Jiading has been equipped with an intelligent traffic system, capable of analyzing real-time traffic condition and making appropriate adjustments in traffic lights.

The district is also developing more underground traffic lanes, freeing up ground space for pedestrians and parking.

Jiading hopes someday to create a computer-driven smart community, integrating things such as telecommunications networks and installing household systems that allow residents to turn on air conditioners or other appliances as they commute home from work or utilize automatic timing systems to maximize home energy efficiency.

The district is actively improving its social infrastructure to blend with its design for the future. Support facilities, such as hospitals and schools, are being built, along with museums, theaters, arts centers, youth centers and shopping facilities.