Broad Group
Encyclopedia
Broad Group is a private company based in Changsha, China. Since 1996, it has been the global leader in manufacturing central air conditioning non-electric absorption chillers
, which is powered by natural gas
and waste heat
, and currently exports its products to over 60 countries. It was Shanghai Expo 2010's only global official partner that was a Chinese private enterprise and exclusively supplied central air conditioning, ventilation
and air purification products
for the event.
Broad is one of the few Chinese manufacturing companies that has been widely recognized for its green policies and commitment to climate change
. It has expanded its business in recent years to include other energy saving products and sustainable buildings, and achieved a feat of building a 15-storys tall hotel in 6 days, which received 2 million views in the first 10 days on YouTube
.
Invented in 2009, the BSB achieves high energy efficiency and carbon reduction primarily through thermal insulation
, preventing cool air from leaving indoors and hot air from coming in from outdoors when the weather is hot and vice versa when the weather is cold, and requires short construction time since parts are pre-fabricated in factories and assembled onsite. In the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference
, President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón
, commented the BSB technology to be a practical, imaginative, creative & bold endeavor and a new revolution of world's architectural and housing industry, which is bound to be transferred to developing countries leading to reduction in carbon emissions. BSB has also been tested to be able to resist a 9.0 magnitude
earthquake
and was recommended in an United Nations Environment Program report on the rebuilding of Sichuan
after its catastrophic earthquake
in 2008
So far, Broad has built 4 demos of BSB, including: the 6-story Broad Pavilion in Shanghai Expo 2010 in 1 day, the 14-story New Ark's Hotel in Broad's headquarters in 6 days, and the Broad Pavilion in 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference
in 8 days.
(Entrepreneurial Vision Category) by the United Nations Environment Programme
for Broad's commitment to climate change. It was one of the ten companies to be recognized by the BusinessWeek
Greener China Business Awards in 2009. It was also named one of the "20 Most Admired Companies in China" in 2001, ’02, ’04, and ’05 by China's Economic Observer
and Peking University
.
–Richard Ivey School of Business
case study on Zhang's decision and reports "the authors argue that Broad would likely have gained "a significant market share" and earned "10 times" its production cost in this product area—but in doing so it would not have been able to "stay true to the company's environmental protection principles."
Absorption refrigerator
An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that uses a heat source to provide the energy needed to drive the cooling system...
, which is powered by natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
and waste heat
Waste heat
Waste heat sometimes called Secondary heat or Low-grade heat refers to heat produced by machines, electrical equipment and industrial processes for which no useful application is found. Energy is often produced by a heat engine, running on a source of high-temperature heat...
, and currently exports its products to over 60 countries. It was Shanghai Expo 2010's only global official partner that was a Chinese private enterprise and exclusively supplied central air conditioning, ventilation
Ventilation
Ventilation is movement of air in and out of an enclosed space, including a body. It is used in the following contexts:* Ventilation * Ventilation * Ventilation * Ventilation * Ventilation...
and air purification products
Air purifier
An air purifier is a device which removes contaminants from the air. These devices are commonly marketed as being beneficial to allergy sufferers and asthmatics, and at reducing or eliminating second-hand tobacco smoke...
for the event.
Broad is one of the few Chinese manufacturing companies that has been widely recognized for its green policies and commitment to climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
. It has expanded its business in recent years to include other energy saving products and sustainable buildings, and achieved a feat of building a 15-storys tall hotel in 6 days, which received 2 million views in the first 10 days on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
1988–1992: The early years
Zhang Yue founded Broad in 1988, registering in Chenzhou, Hunan. Using $3000, Broad developed industrial boilers based on Zhang's patented design. At the time, most boilers domestically manufactured were of poor quality and had high risk of exploding, while Broad's did not.1992–2005: Move to Changsha and rise
In 1992, the company was moved to Changsha and began manufacturing absorption chillers. At the time, government provided incentives for non-electric chillers to relief strain on the national electricity grid, contributing to the company's rise as it became the global leader in absorption chiller by sales in 1996; it entered the international market in 1998 and today, its sales in domestic and international markets split evenly.2005-Present: From manufacturing to sustainable construction
While absorption chillers remain Broad's largest source of revenue, it now offers other environmentally friendly products including air purifiers and air conditioner terminals, with the BSB(Broad Sustainable Building) its latest invention in sustainable building technology, receiving more attention.Invented in 2009, the BSB achieves high energy efficiency and carbon reduction primarily through thermal insulation
Building insulation
building insulation refers broadly to any object in a building used as insulation for any purpose. While the majority of insulation in buildings is for thermal purposes, the term also applies to acoustic insulation, fire insulation, and impact insulation...
, preventing cool air from leaving indoors and hot air from coming in from outdoors when the weather is hot and vice versa when the weather is cold, and requires short construction time since parts are pre-fabricated in factories and assembled onsite. In the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference
2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference
The 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in Cancún, Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December 2010. The conference is officially referred to as the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 6th session of the...
, President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
, commented the BSB technology to be a practical, imaginative, creative & bold endeavor and a new revolution of world's architectural and housing industry, which is bound to be transferred to developing countries leading to reduction in carbon emissions. BSB has also been tested to be able to resist a 9.0 magnitude
Richter magnitude scale
The expression Richter magnitude scale refers to a number of ways to assign a single number to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake....
earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
and was recommended in an United Nations Environment Program report on the rebuilding of Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
after its catastrophic earthquake
2008 Sichuan earthquake
The 2008 Sichuan earthquake or the Great Sichuan Earthquake was a deadly earthquake that measured at 8.0 Msand 7.9 Mw occurred at 14:28:01 CST...
in 2008
So far, Broad has built 4 demos of BSB, including: the 6-story Broad Pavilion in Shanghai Expo 2010 in 1 day, the 14-story New Ark's Hotel in Broad's headquarters in 6 days, and the Broad Pavilion in 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference
2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference
The 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in Cancún, Mexico, from 29 November to 10 December 2010. The conference is officially referred to as the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 6th session of the...
in 8 days.
Notable recognitions
In May, 2011, Broad's founder and chairman, Zhang Yue, was awarded the Champions of the Earth AwardChampions of the Earth
The United Nations Environment Programme established Champions of the Earth in 2004 as an annual awards programme to recognize outstanding environmental leaders at a policy level...
(Entrepreneurial Vision Category) by the United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
for Broad's commitment to climate change. It was one of the ten companies to be recognized by the BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek
Bloomberg Businessweek, commonly and formerly known as BusinessWeek, is a weekly business magazine published by Bloomberg L.P. It is currently headquartered in New York City.- History :...
Greener China Business Awards in 2009. It was also named one of the "20 Most Admired Companies in China" in 2001, ’02, ’04, and ’05 by China's Economic Observer
The Economic Observer
The Economic Observer is an independent, weekly simplified Chinese-language newspaper published in the People's Republic of China since April 2001....
and Peking University
Peking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
.
Refusing to invest in electric chiller market
In 2000, amid temporary company sales drop, and huge demands for cooling equipment of all kinds in China, Zhang was urged to enter the much larger market for electric air conditioners. Zhang refused citing that after successfully challenging himself to create wealth when the company was started, his current only motive was to "save energy and reduce greenhouse emissions.". A Carnegie Council article cited a 2004 Peking UniversityPeking University
Peking University , colloquially known in Chinese as Beida , is a major research university located in Beijing, China, and a member of the C9 League. It is the first established modern national university of China. It was founded as Imperial University of Peking in 1898 as a replacement of the...
–Richard Ivey School of Business
Richard Ivey School of Business
The Richard Ivey School of Business is located on the University of Western Ontario campus in London, Ontario, Canada, and is consistently rated as the top business school in Canada. It is offered, along with a range of other programs, by the University of Western Ontario, but is managed separately...
case study on Zhang's decision and reports "the authors argue that Broad would likely have gained "a significant market share" and earned "10 times" its production cost in this product area—but in doing so it would not have been able to "stay true to the company's environmental protection principles."