Making an environmental point

The "low-carbon account" is an online platform established by the Hangzhou Asian Games Village to promote and champion the principles of low-carbon living. Residents of the village can earn points through activities like waste sorting and then exchange them for a variety of rewards. ZHANG WEI/CHINA DAILY

Asian Games Village initiative rewards residents for their low-carbon habits

Among the numerous activities offered within the Hangzhou Asian Games Village, a low-carbon account project stands out as a top choice for athletes, team officials, technical staff, and media personnel.

At bus stops, various venues, shops, and beyond, guests can spot a distinctive QR code. With a simple scan using smartphone, they can easily complete the registration process and obtain their personalized "low-carbon account".

"The 'low-carbon account' is an online platform established by the Hangzhou Asian Games Village to promote and champion the principles of low-carbon living, thriftiness and environmental conservation," explained Chen Chong from the service office of the Hangzhou Asian Games Village operations management center.

Through this platform, residents can actively participate in various low-carbon activities hosted within the village by completing interactive tasks, Chen said.

"By choosing eco-friendly and low-carbon options for accommodation, transportation, dining and shopping, they can accumulate low-carbon points, which can be exchanged for a variety of rewards, including badges, carbon-neutral plush toys, recycled material shopping bags, sunblock clothing and more," he further explained.

It's not that difficult to gain points — by participating in the low-carbon pledge on the cloud, users can easily get 50 points, and by taking the low-carbon classes on the cloud earns 3 points each time — virtually every aspect of daily life within the village offers opportunities to choose a more low-carbon, eco-friendly approach and accumulate low-carbon points.

At dawn in the village, there is always a queue in front of the capsule toy machine, as people eagerly wait to exchange their points for a chance to play with it.

Chinese bridge player Fu Bo had a stroke of luck as she won the grand prize in the lottery, and she decided to claim a smart home assistant.

Laotian golfer Phongsavath Duangvilaykeo redeemed 50 points from his carbon credits to participate in the lottery.

Upon receiving a mousepad as his prize, he proceeded to engage in waste sorting using the intelligent dustbin, adding an additional 10 points to his account. He also took the initiative to guide his teammate on how to earn points through waste sorting.

"I like the low-carbon concept, and I'll continue to collect the points in the village," he said.

Sonali Koothala, an Indian team official, shared her intention to keep accumulating points throughout her stay in the village. She expressed her hope of eventually exchanging them for something meaningful, ideally a mascot.

Chen said that their goal in establishing the "online carbon platform "is to engage everyone, allowing them to find enjoyment and acquire knowledge related to low-carbon living and environmental conservation.

"They can take these concepts back to their hometowns, encouraging more people to join in the cause of environmental protection. The environmentally conscious and frugal principles of the Hangzhou Asian Games can then reach far and wide, influencing a broader audience," he said.