From Hangzhou to Nagoya: How Green Energy Powers the Asian Games Spirit

Sustainable Venues Set the Tone

The Aichi-Nagoya Games have embraced a "Social Good" philosophy, aiming to inspire action toward a better society through sustainable development . The approach is pragmatic: instead of building everything new, the organizing committee is utilizing nearly 50 existing facilities across Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture . The main venue, Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium, serves as a model of this strategy. After a five-year renovation, the 85-year-old stadium has achieved ZEB Ready certification for a 50% reduction in primary energy consumption, along with the highest five-star BELS rating and a CASBEE S-rank certification . The stadium's cloud-like membrane roof, local Aichi cypress lattice, and the MIZUHO-LOOP circuit walkway demonstrate that world-class sports and environmental responsibility can coexist .

The Hangzhou Precedent: Where Tongyi Made Its Mark

This sustainability ethos was already in full display three years earlier at the Hangzhou Asian Games. The 2023 edition was the first Asian Games committed to achieving carbon neutrality, guided by principles of "green, smart, economical, and civilized" .

Among the green technologies deployed, Tongyi Air Source Heat Pumps stood out. The company was selected to design and implement the hot water engineering system for the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Tennis Center, the iconic "Little Lotus" venue . What made this system remarkable was its reliance on air source heat pump technology, which extracts heat from ambient air to generate hot water with a fraction of the energy required by conventional electric or gas heaters . The system delivered 24/7 continuous hot water to the venue, ensuring comfort for athletes and spectators while significantly reducing carbon emissions .

This wasn't Tongyi's first major sporting event. Since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the company has consistently provided sustainable energy solutions for high-profile competitions, building a track record of reliability and environmental performance . By the time the Hangzhou Asian Games arrived, Tongyi's technology had already proven itself across a range of commercial and residential applications, from hotels and hospitals to schools and commercial complexes .

A Shared Vision Across Host Cities

The continuity between Hangzhou 2023 and Nagoya 2026 is striking. Both events have positioned environmental responsibility at the core of their operations. For Nagoya 2026, this includes the use of CO₂-free electricity at the main stadium, sourced from renewable energy and verified through non-fossil certificates. The projected reduction of approximately 630 tons of CO₂ during the Games period is equivalent to the electricity consumption of about 3,000 households during the same timeframe . The organizing committee has also implemented a "Code of Sustainable Procurement" that requires contractors to adhere to sustainability standards in goods, services, and construction .

For Tongyi, the connection is both professional and philosophical. The company's participation in Hangzhou 2023 was an opportunity to showcase Chinese heat pump technology on a continental stage, proving that air source solutions could handle the demanding requirements of a major sporting venue .

The Bigger Picture

As the Nagoya Games progress, the question of how major sporting events can minimize their environmental footprint remains central. The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 organizing committee has framed its approach as "Beyond Aichi-Nagoya 2026, a Bridge to Asia and the Future," emphasizing that the Games should serve as a catalyst for addressing social issues beyond sports . This includes volunteer programs open to all regardless of age, gender, nationality, or disability, and collaboration with local students and organizations .

The trajectory from Hangzhou to Nagoya reflects a broader shift in how international sporting events are conceived and executed. Green technology, once a peripheral concern, has become integral to the planning and operation of these massive gatherings. Whether through air source heat pumps delivering hot water at a tennis center, or CO₂-free electricity powering an 85-year-old stadium's renovation, the commitment to sustainability is no longer just a talking point, it is a measurable, verifiable outcome.

As athletes from across Asia compete in Nagoya, they do so in venues that are, in many cases, older and more energy-efficient than their predecessors. This is the quiet revolution happening alongside the visible drama of competition: the transformation of how we power the places where history is made.