A top Singaporean official in charge of overseeing the Tianjin Eco-City development is planning to become the first resident of the green township in order to test out its eco-friendly features.
Mr. Ho Tong Yen, Chief Executive of the Sino-Singapore project’s master developer, said the 30 sq km green township will welcome residents by early 2012.
“Once the Eco-City is ready to receive residents, I will move in, because the only way to know a product is to use it personally and then you will know its strengths and weaknesses and how it can be improved,” said Mr. Ho, who currently lives near the Eco-City development.
The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city is the second largest development between Singapore and China. It comprises 100 percent green buildings, which meet energy and water efficiency standards and feature better sunlight and ventilation.
The development will also feature a green transportation system, hybrid cars and bikes. Vital facilities such as clinics and a supermarket will be located near residential areas so that people can walk rather than drive to them.
“I think the Eco-city is not a case of China learning from Singapore,” said Mr. Ho.
“We are here working together, taking advantage of the best practices and knowledge in each of our systems in order to try and development the first of its kind Eco-city.”
He noted that the development is not based on a “utopian model”. It is envisioned to house 350,000 residents over an area nearly as big as Jurong Island.
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