The Shanghai Disney Resort Management Company announced on Thursday that it would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent and increase the resort's overall energy efficiency by three times, in cooperation with its local partners for energy supply and environmental protection.

The company is to adopt a leading environmental technology to supply its resort with heating, cooling and compressed air, thereby increasing overall energy efficiency.

Shanghai Disneyland is the first Disney project in the Chinese mainland. Due to open in 2015, it will sit on 3.9 square km, making it three times larger than Hong Kong Disneyland.

Its utilities will be co-generated by a combined cooling and heating plant, to be built and operated onsite by the Shanghai International Tourism and Resort Zone New Energy Co Ltd, a joint venture company owned by Huadian New Energy Development Co Ltd, Shanghai Shendi (Group) Co Ltd, and Shanghai Yiliu Energy Group Co Ltd.

"Shanghai Disney Resort is devoted to seeking new technology and business solutions that reduce our impact on the environment, save resources and promote sustainable technology," said Mike Crawford, the resort's general manager.

"The project is an excellent example of partnership, localization and Disney's long-term commitment to environmental protection. We are excited to be creating a world-class destination here in Shanghai to showcase environment friendly and leading technologies."

Construction began last week on Shanghai Disneyland's Enchanted Storybook Castle, which will be the world's tallest and largest Disney castle.

The castle will be stationed at the heart of the theme park.

"All you can see now is the construction site. But it will be very green, very lush in the future, and very special to the city. We are determined to bring the most authentic Disney experience, as well as Chinese characters that make the visitors comfortable here," said Murray King, Shanghai Disney Resorts' vice-president of public affairs.

The theme park has a construction budget of 24.5 billion yuan ($4 billion), and an additional 4.5 billion yuan will be spent to build hotels and restaurants.

Disney owns 43 percent of the property. The other 57 percent is held by the State-controlled Shanghai Shendi Group Co Ltd.

A large transport terminal will be built alongside the resort, and Shanghai city's Metro Line 11 will also transport visitors to the resort.

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(China Daily USA?05/31/2013 page1)