Study tour to Europe
The study tour to selected EU countries covered about 45 site visits in Austria, Germany and Italy. The tour was attended by 26 Chinese delegates and accompanied by several EU experts during a time of two weeks in September 2000.
=> Germany (Berlin - Hannover - Munich): Starting point of the study tour was the German capital Berlin. The delegates were receipt by the leading German party, the social democrats in their headquarter 'Willy Brandt Building', which is an outstanding example of modern facility management and renewable energy use. On special permit the delegates could also visit 'Alsen Luisenblock', one of the biggest construction areas of today in Europe, where a new district is coming into beeing and which will serve as premises for the state administration in the future. Further the german parliament and other interesting buildings like the shopping mall 'Galerie La Fayette' with its modern energy conception could be visited.
The tour went on to the City of Hannover. On schedule were the visit of the 'DVG Building' with its impressing ondular glassroof and indoor air quality management. One highlight of the tour was the visit of the EXPO 2000; beside the exhibition itself the different more or less energy efficient exhibition halls were of interest.
Final station in Germany was the City of Munich. Company 'Baerlocher! demonstrated their cooling concrete products. The visit at airport Riem showed another example of energy efficient commercial building.
=> Austria (Salzburg - Carinthia - Graz - Vienna): From Salzburg, which was visited as tourist spot during a weekend, the tour went on across the Alps to southern Austria. In Carinthia the delegation had a meeting with the European leader in the insulation industry, Heraklith. To round up the visits on construction materials the bricket factory 'Brenner' was visited. In the City of Klagenfurt the company KELAG, which is one of the main energy service companies of Austria, gave an insight to their activities. On programme was also a visit of GreenOneTec, the leading European manufacturer of solar collectors. In the City of Villach some examples on energy efficient residential buildings were visited including small scale solar and biomass applications. One evening in Carithia was reserved for a meeting with the provincial councillor for environment and energy.
Next stop was the City of Graz, which is renowned as 'Environmental Capital of Europe'. The delegates met the responsible persons for this success. Amongst them the Environmental Department of Graz, the Graz Energy Agency and the Austrian Cleaner Production Center.
Final station was the Austrian capital Vienna. The delegates were officially receipt at the Austrian Chamber of Commerce. The companies VA Tech Elin and WBG, both renowned energy engineering companies, gave presentations. Further meetings was the Austrian Energy Agency E.V.A. and representatives from the Austrian Ministry of Environment, The Austrian Ministry of Innovation and the Austrian Ministry of Economy and Energy took place.
=> Italy (Florence - Montecatini - Pisa - Lardarello): One part of the Chinese delegates made a special trip to Italy to visit installation and institutions with regard to geothermal energy use. This theme was completed by meetings at the Institute of Geophysics of Joannem Reserch in Graz and further geothermal installations in Styria on the way to Vienna.
=> European culture: Beside the technical aspects the tour provided a lot of insights to European culture and living style. On the way the delegates could have a quick view to such renowned sites as the Castle Sanssouci in Potsdam or the Brandenburgertor in Berlin, the City of Salzburg and scenic view points in the Alps, touristic attractions in southern Austria, the Ringstrasse, the Cathedral St. Stephans and Castle Schoenbrunn in Vienna and some more. Experiences of different taste provided one evening at the Munich October Festival. The successful implementation of the study tour was celebrated at the end with a visit of a classic music concert in Vienna with presentations of Mozart and Johann Strauss.