China will develop more energy-efficient buildings during the 11th Five-Year Guidelines period (2006-2010) in a bid to push for an energy-saving and environment-friendly society, Minister of Construction Wang Guangtao said Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Second International Conference on Intelligent Green and Energy Efficient Building, Wan said the government will give priority to the refurbishment of government buildings and the improvement of their management to make them more energy-efficient.

China will continue pushing for the reform of urban house heating system. Under the new system, households shall pay heating companies by the amount of heat they actually use, not in accordance with the floor space of their accommodations.

China will try to impose tougher energy-saving standards in Beijing and other large cities and gradually make such standards national, the minister said, adding that such standards will reduce energy consumption by as much as 65 percent.

The government will also focus on the development of key technologies such as the refurbishment of old buildings and the construction of environment-friendly buildings, he said.

In rural areas, priority will be given to the application of wind, solar and other renewable energies, the minister said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2006)