Officials in China spoke this week about the nation’s efforts to reduce energy consumption. On Tuesday, Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said that China will take four measures to reduce energy consumption in construction projects over the next five years.
For TFM’s coverage of this topic, see “Green Around The Globe” in the March 2006 issue.
Zeng said the measures include:
* Implementing eco-friendly construction standards
* Refurbishing old buildings to improve energy efficiency
* Enhancing studies on eco-friendly technology, equipment and materials, which will become preferred options in construction projects
* Improving the legal system to facilitate energy savings
On Wednesday, the Deputy Minister of Construction, Qiu Baoxing, stated that China has begun a massive reconstruction of old buildings to make them more energy efficient. Work on buildings of the 10 central government ministries, including the Ministry of Construction, has begun and will be finished in a year-and-a-half, he said.
If reconstruction on the first 10 buildings proves successful, all departments of the central government and provincial governments will follow suit.
Qiu pointed out that the refurbishment of old buildings is part of the government’s bid to build a resource-saving and environmentally-friendly society.
According to experts, by 2020, China will see the construction of new buildings totaling 30 billion square meters in floor space. The demand to light, heat and cool these buildings on the current energy consumption model would be impossible, they say.
The Chinese government has approved plans to reduce energy consumption of new urban buildings by 50% by the end of 2010. For big cities such as Beijing, it will be cut by 65%.
By 2010, big cities shall have 25% of their old private and public buildings refurbished for energy saving. Middle-sized cities will have 15% and small cities 10%. By 2020, all the old buildings in Chinese cities are targeted to be refurbished for energy savings.
