Green and Low-Carbon Living Makes Life More Beautiful — Observations from the National Energy Conservation Publicity Week in Households

BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) — Title: Green and Low-Carbon Living Makes Life More Beautiful — Observations from the National Energy Conservation Publicity Week in Households

　　Xinhua News Agency reporter

　　During the 33rd National Energy Conservation Public Awareness Week, reporters visited communities and households across Shanxi, Shanghai, Guangdong, Hebei, and other regions, witnessing how a green lifestyle—characterized by simplicity, moderation, environmental sustainability, low carbon emissions, and cultural health—is gaining widespread momentum.

　　Zhang Yan, the Party secretary of a community in Wanbailin District, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, was out and about when we met her—carrying a reusable takeout bag as she headed to the residents’ committee to take care of some business. In her daily life, Zhang Yan has consistently embraced an energy‑saving, low‑carbon lifestyle. At home, she makes the most of every drop of water: rice‑washing water goes to watering plants, and laundry‑rinsing water is used for mopping floors and flushing the toilet. She also switches off appliances whenever they’re not in use, cutting down on standby power consumption. These good habits have not only shaped her own behavior but have also inspired and influenced her daughter. “Whenever we go out,” Zhang Yan says, “our child’s first suggestion is always to ride a bicycle—both low‑carbon and great exercise. Our whole family often heads to the Fen River for evening bike rides, too.”

　　 Zhang Yan’s family posed for a photo during an evening bike ride at Fenhe Park. (Photo provided by Zhang Yan)

　　As a community worker, Zhang Yan often makes time to bring her family and children to participate in the community’s environmental‑awareness volunteer activities, actively encouraging everyone to start with everyday life and tackle even the smallest actions. “Creating a green household on our own is far from enough; only when the entire society embraces green, low‑carbon values can our lives truly become better,” she said.

　　“Hello, it seems you’re not yet sorting your dry and wet waste very clearly—let’s sort it together again.” On July 15, a reporter visited the Yihao Oujing Second Residential Area in Nanhui New Town, Pudong New District, Shanghai, just in time to find Yu Dexiang guiding residents on waste sorting. As a volunteer dedicated to waste‑separation, the retired Mr. Yu now shows up punctually at the community’s waste‑collection station every day—at seven in the morning and six in the evening.

　　“Dry waste can be incinerated to generate electricity, wet waste can be fermented into nutrient-rich soil and liquid fertilizer, recyclable materials can be reused, and hazardous waste is disposed of properly. Even the smallest everyday actions can make a significant contribution to a low‑carbon, circular economy—truly meaningful,” said Yu Dexiang.

　　On July 12, National Low-Carbon Day 2023, the Yihao Oujing Second Residential Area established a team of “Little Waste Sorting Supervisors.” (Photo provided by the Yihao Oujing Second Residents’ Committee)

　　In Fuxing New Village, Beiqu Community, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, an intelligent waste-sorting and processing device capable of handling 12 categories of recyclables and 3 types of hazardous waste has drawn the attention of reporters. Leveraging IoT technology, it offers features such as QR-code login, automatic weighing, and instant cashback, encouraging residents to sort their waste and reducing waste generation at the source.

　　“As a pilot community for near-zero carbon emissions, we encourage households to install distributed photovoltaic systems on their rooftops, set up “clothing bank” collection bins to facilitate the circular reuse of idle resources, and offer organic‑gardening workshops to help residents use household food waste for composting and grow organic vegetables and fruits,” said He Yiqing, director of the Xiaolan Low‑Carbon Development Promotion Center in Zhongshan City. He added that, at present, renewable energy accounts for 21.5% of residential energy consumption in Fuxing New Village, resulting in an annual reduction of 90 tonnes of carbon dioxide, and that residents are increasingly enjoying the benefits of a green, low‑carbon lifestyle.

　　The photo shows the smart waste-sorting and processing equipment at Fuxing New Village, Beiqu Community, Xiaolan Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province. (Photo provided by the Zhongshan Xiaolan Low-Carbon Development Promotion Center)

　　The Song Yanli family, who live in the Binhe South Community of Jize County, Handan, Hebei Province, was honored as one of Hebei Province’s “Most Beautiful Green Families” in 2022. Reusing old items has become a daily habit for the entire household. “I cut potato chip boxes in half, add some decorations, and turn them into pencil holders; I repurpose large Coca‑Cola bottles to grow vegetables and flowers; and after trimming used laundry‑detergent bottles, I turn them into planters…” Song Yanli carefully shared with the reporter the energy‑saving tips she has developed through everyday life.

　　At Song Yanli’s home, the reporter observed that water‑saving faucets have been installed in the kitchen and bathroom, energy‑efficient light bulbs are used throughout, and the entire family has made it a habit to turn off lights whenever they leave a room. Used vegetable‑washing and laundry water is collected for mopping floors and flushing toilets, while rice‑washing water is repurposed to water plants. In addition, the family brings their own reusable shopping bags when they go to the supermarket.

　　Under Song Yanli’s influence, the children have also developed good habits of thrift and environmental protection. “We collect empty mineral water bottles after drinking and decorate them to turn into flower vases; we write on both sides of our notebooks; and we gather used paper and sell it all to the recycling center,” said Song Yanli. (Reporters Ma Xiaojie, Wang Moling, Hu Mengxue, and Zhao Hongyu)

[Editor-in-charge: Shi Ge]

Source: Xinhua Net