During This Island Garrison Training, We Moved Into a 'Zero-Carbon Barracks'

A 'Zero-Carbon Barracks' on the Island

■ Cadre of an Army Unit, Chen Zhengzhong

Officers and soldiers plant coconut seedlings in front of the 'Zero-Carbon Barracks.' Photo by Li Haonan.

Stepping onto the dock, a salty, damp sea breeze hit my face. After three years, I set foot again on this small island in the South China Sea, and everything was as familiar as before: the deep-blue sky, the clear seawater, the soaring seabirds—and of course, the air was just as humid and hot as it had always been.

I shouldered my pack and led the unit toward the garrison barracks. What was different this time was that for this garrison training rotation, we moved into the 'Zero-Carbon Barracks.'

This barracks is an old acquaintance of mine. In September 2023, a research team from a naval logistics academy came ashore to provide technical support for the new energy-efficient barracks they had developed. At the time, I was living in a prefabricated modular room less than ten meters from this building.

How does one introduce zero-carbon technology into military barracks construction? 'The walls of this barracks are not made of conventional materials—they are straw walls. Straw piled on the ground is waste, but when mixed into building walls it becomes an environmentally friendly, energy-saving material with strong thermal insulation and good soundproofing.' The research team members patiently answered my questions. At the time I thought to myself: when would we ever get to live in this 'Zero-Carbon Barracks'? I never expected that this training rotation would actually make that wish come true.

I pushed open the door of the barracks and a wave of cool air washed over me—the airflow was even, natural, and refreshing. I instinctively ran my hand along the wall and door frame. Three years had passed; the salt-fog corrosion on the island is severe, yet this building still looked as good as new. The airtightness of the entire barracks is excellent: once the doors and windows are closed, the heat cannot surge in and the cool air cannot escape, so the air conditioning does not need to run as hard, and energy consumption is naturally lower.

After setting down my luggage, I stood at the window and looked out. The barracks is not far from the airfield, and the runway was fully visible. Just then, a fighter aircraft taxied and took off. Unexpectedly, the roar of the engine seemed diminished—which brought to mind the last training rotation.

One night, the sound of bird-dispersal cannons suddenly erupted outside, and various special-purpose vehicles kept up a continuous rumble, as if performing some kind of ensemble. Then the sound of fighter engines joined in. I lay in bed tossing and turning, unable to sleep soundly.

The next morning I led the troops in training as planned, but the soldiers were listless one after another. After training ended, one soldier came to me with dark circles under his eyes to vent his frustrations. I could see it clearly and felt anxious, but the conditions in the prefabricated modular rooms were limited, and all I could do was try my best to ease their mood.

This time, things were different. Not long ago, one midday, fighter aircraft took off for training one after another, yet it did not affect the soldiers' midday rest at all—the piercing engine noise, once it 'squeezed' through the windows, became muffled.

'This barracks really is something!' That afternoon's training session, the soldiers were full of energy and trained with great drive.

'The island is very damp—the quilts feel clammy, and after a while your joints get uncomfortable. Now that we're living in the Zero-Carbon Barracks, the temperature is just right and the body feels comfortable. After finishing training, running a few more kilometers is no problem at all!' Bian Ye, a soldier returning to the island, said to me excitedly.

Counting on my fingers, there is about one more month before typhoon-prevention season begins again. I heard from the officers and soldiers on the island that in 2024 the island was hit by a super typhoon of Force 12. The several rows of prefabricated modular rooms we had lived in were blown to pieces, and that area later became an empty lot. This new energy-efficient barracks, however, has weathered multiple typhoons and its structure remains solid.

Looking out at this island of green waters and blue skies, what more can we do? After much thought, the soldiers and I decided to plant coconut seedlings around the barracks. One day, these coconut seedlings will grow into towering trees and, together with the 'Zero-Carbon Barracks,' stand watch over this beautiful small island.

(Compiled by PLA Daily special correspondent Li Rui)