The 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in China were planned to be the greenest ever, and history was made when the Beijing Winter Olympics first applied the sports dome to achieve carbon neutrality by using a number of carbon-cutting, reduction, and offset strategies.
One of the most critical issues of our day is climate change, and through thorough research, the relationship between sports and climate change is becoming more widely recognized.
Sports Dome Can Help Neutralize Carbon
Sports nowadays are affected by this catastrophe. People realize that sports can be easily affected by extreme weather. For example, there is no chance you can have a basketball match under a blizzard or a storm, and that’s when the sports domes step in. Unlike traditional sports stadiums, a sports dome can play an important role in reducing the detrimental effects of climate change by raising awareness and lessening carbon footprints.
Here is how:
- Easy Installation & Reusable
Since sports domes are easy to install, they offer an excellent way to either temporarily or permanently turn any sports dome into an indoor venue. Additionally, it may be readily disassembled and recycled if someone wants to renovate it. The construction process is speedy and relatively simpler than traditional stadiums too.
- Fewer Construction Materials
According to the 2018 Worldwide Alliance for Buildings and Construction report given by the UN, the use of resources, including steel, concrete, aluminum, and glass, for use in building construction accounts for 11% of global carbon dioxide emissions. This is why sport carbon neutral domes are proving to be a better alternative. These outdoor domes use fewer building materials to construct as they do not need extensive site building procedures like concrete foundations and frames.
- Energy Saving through Intelligent Control Systems
The unique intelligent control system makes the sports dome an energy-saving building. With the system, the sports dome can automatically monitor the air quality to adjust the operating system. Moreover, there is research showing that sports domes are frequently being constructed based on Energy Information Management Systems that leverage modern metering infrastructure and monitor building energy consumption. Once installed, they can save 3% on average, while automated problem identification and diagnostics save 9% on average.[1]
Nanjing Dry Snow Hall – A Prime Example
The best example of air supported structures in recent times is the Nanjing Dry Snow Hall, made by Metaspace. The hall is a base camp to the snowboarding national training team. It resembles an oval white dome with a training capacity of 500 people. Moreover, this outdoor dome is 106 meters long, 68 meters wide, and 36 meters high. It is built on air supported structures and follows the principle of carbon neutrality.
With the main objective of reducing carbon footprint, it has all the features of a basic carbon-neutral sports dome and has the following benefits under its belt:
- Self-Cleaning Function
The only sources of cleaning for the air-supported structure of the Nanjing Dry Snow Hall are snow and rain. Its surface gravity acts as a self-cleaning system by removing dirt automatically from time to time. Therefore, it does not need external cleaning and thus lowers the overall cost of the cleaning materials and labor.
- Air Filtration System
The Nanjing Dry Snow Hall has an integrated air filtering technology. The air quality is strictly controlled at PM2.510g/m3, and the indoor environment is much cleaner than in standard stadium domes.
Furthermore, this sports dome has other features such as anti-smog and provides the option to adjust temperature and humidity and the ability to increase oxygen levels as per your liking.
- Constant Temperature System
The Nanjing Dry Snow Hall has a unique hybrid cooling technology that provides a consistent temperature system. This technology gives a simple, smart, and natural method for lowering indoor temperatures by preventing heat from entering the building’s interior.
- Low Construction and Operation Cost
When compared to traditional stadiums, smart sports domes are less expensive to build, easier to maintain and utilize, and have an annual operating cost that is roughly one-third that of conventional stadiums.
With the Nanjing Dry Snow Hall, snowboarders of team China are able to train all year round for the Olympics.
Sports Dome from Metaspace: The Experts You Can Trust
Looking for a smart solution for your sports dome? Metaspace is the best option for your outdoor dome.
The air structural sports dome from Metaspace is perfect for shielding your sports field from the elements while also providing a secure and welcoming interior area for a variety of sports activities. The Metaspace sports dome is ideal for amateur or professional indoor sports as it offers a large play surface as well as room for spectators and equipment. Tennis bubbles, swim domes, and soccer domes can all be constructed.
References
- SMART ENERGY ANALYTICS ARE KEY TO BUILDING ENERGY AND COST SAVINGS. Available at: https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/beat-blog/smart-energy-analytics-are-key-building-energy-and-cost-savings (Accessed 9 September 2022)