That’s “China International Real Estate & Arch-tech Fair”, held in the China International Exhibition Center, an exhibition to show real estate projects and new technology for energy conservation and environment-friendly construction.
As usual famous Lao Fan (aka Gilbert) had to brighten up the row of dignitaries to cut the opening ribbon, showing off his new 2007 EU tie from the Portuguese presidency plus his gray hair. Took the opportunity to drag along some other laowais who (still) feel thrilled to be on stage, Hirio Ottino and Daniel Petrich. (does not look like it but both speaking français, vraiment).
Got to chat with Wu Zhongze, vice minister of the Ministry of Science & Technology, who was the VVIP.

Never saw so many journalists who pushed and shoved to make pictures and shoot film. A bit puzzling.
The exhibition showed some of the advanced products like real good isolating windows, Canadian wood, etc. Leaves me always skeptic as Chinese construction still lags behind to make buildings really energy friendly.
The waste of energy is enormous and few seem to care. All this blabla about saving energy and green buildings makes me tired. A good start would be better temperature control – overall non-existent. Don’t be fooled by the high-tech looking thermostats, they serve no purpose but for the vendors to do business. Central heating systems have no control at all and just pump hot water to the point the only way is to open the windows, what is the mostly used high-tech approach. Don’t try to close down the radiator, you might end up with a flooded room and a piece of rusted iron in your hands.
Same for the air ducts who spew out hot, dry and polluted air. Forget “control”. Example: PowerHouse Gym.
Just taking care of the above could save 20 to 40% of energy consumption in Beijing. And bring clear skies.