The National Aquatics Center – or the Water Cube – is covered by ETFE foil membranes*. Sunlight penetrating the membranes makes artificial lighting unnecessary in most parts of the Center in the day time and also keeps the water temperature of the swimming pools to a regulated degree. This design reduces electric power consumption by 30 percent. Besides, water recycling through the dual filtering system of the swimming pools and an underground rainwater recuperation system reflect an ingenious design of water and power conservation.

国家游泳中心「水立方」，其整个建筑体铺着透明的ETFE膜（注），透过阳光的照射，可以使游泳中心的绝大部分区域在日间不需点灯，并且使游泳池内的水温达到一定的温度，此项设计能协助节省约30%的电力。不仅如此，游泳池的双重过滤装置还可实现水资源再利用的理念，并建有地下水池来收集储存雨水，是一项结合省电、省水的智慧设计。

The National Indoor Stadium is erected on a foundation built from slag, or residue from steel-melting. This pioneering undertaking in material recycling has consumed over 80,000 tons of slag to produce a good waterproof effect. Solar panels installed on the roof can generate 100,000 kilowatts of electricity daily.

「国家体育馆」的建设是以炼钢的废土作为地基，这项资源再利用的创举消纳了8万余吨的废弃渣土，并达到良好的防水效果。屋顶上也装设了太阳能发电设备，每年可提供10万度的电力。

Other eco-friendly facilities include the Wrestling Gymnasium, which relies entirely on natural lighting; and the Table Tennis Stadium, which is installed with underground heat transmission lines that provide natural heating in winter, and disperses heat and cools down the stadium in summer. A solar heating system comprising nearly 6,000 sq. m of solar panels will provide hot water for bathrooms in the Olympics Village, where 16,800 athletes from various countries will be staying. After the Olympics, this system will continue to supply hot water to more than 2,000 households in the area. These are excellent examples of efficient environmental protection and good use of natural resources. We hope that the “green Olympics” will be a success and serve as an example for the rest of the world.

除此之外，摔跤馆全面采用自然光照明，完全不用电；乒乓球馆则利用布满场馆的管线传送地热，夏天散热降温，冬天可作为天然暖气；各国运动员居住的奥运村，采用了近 6千平方米的太阳能热水系统，能为奥运会期间16,800名的运动员提供洗浴热水，在奥运会结束后也可以供应这个地区2,000多户居民的生活热水需求。这些在在都是注重环保及资源充分利用的好例子。我们期许这个「绿色奥运」能够顺利举办，并为世人立下良好的典范。

* ETFE is a thin, lightweight and transparent plastic film that is considered one of the most energy-saving and environmentally-friendly construction materials. When two or multiple layers of ETFE are installed together and the space between them inflated, they form durable air cushions that can be used to cover the outer walls and roofs of buildings.