Author(s): You Jin; Chai Beibei; Wang Shuqian

Linked Author(s):

Keywords: Full life cycle; "Rain-carbon-economy" simulation evaluation system; Sponge campus

Abstract: With the proposal of China's "carbon peak and carbon neutrality" strategic goals and the shift of sponge city construction emphasis from pilot demonstrations to wide-scale implementation, there is an urgent need for further quantitative research on the rainwater control effect, carbon neutrality potential, and economic benefits of sponge cities during the full life cycle. This paper takes the campus of the Hebei University of Engineering as the research area, factors in the characteristics of urban runoff production and confluence, and systematically sorts out the carbon offset and economic benefit points of the sponge campus from the dimensions of water security, water environment, water resources, and water ecology. Furthermore, it establishes a full life cycle carbon accounting and economic accounting method system, and then constructs the "Rain-Carbon-Economy" simulation evaluation system by coupling SWMM model result files using Python. The results show that the total cost during the 30-year full life cycle is 24.484 million yuan, with the planning and construction, operation and maintenance, and demolition and reconstruction stages accounting for 67.0%, 11.5%, and 21.5%, respectively. The economic benefit from recycling amounts to 5.555 million yuan, with an annual economic benefit of 0.493 million yuan during the operation and maintenance stage. Breakeven can be achieved in as soon as 33 years. The total carbon emissions reach 2799.3 tons of CO2 during the 30-year full life cycle, with each stage occupying 5.3%, 7.1%, and 37.6%, respectively. The carbon offset from recycling is 244.0 tons of CO2, with a carbon offset of 149.3 tons of CO2 per year during the operation and maintenance stage. Carbon neutrality can be attained in as soon as 11 years, which will result in a total emission reduction of 2120.5 tons of CO2. Sponge cities have huge emission reduction potential and are highly aligned with the "carbon peak and carbon neutrality" strategic goals. At the same time, the carbon offset and economic benefits during the operation stage effectively address issues such as high carbon emissions intensity in gray water facilities and insufficient maintenance funds.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64697/HIC2024_P336

Year: 2024