China will establish a nationwide system to monitor energy consumption of government office buildings and large public buildings, said a circular jointly issued by China's Ministry of Construction and Ministry of Finance.

A national networked monitoring platform will be established to monitor energy consumption of these buildings in real time. Meanwhile, energy consumption calculation, auditing, publicity, quota and pricing systems will be established to promote energy conservation,according to the circular.

Pilot projects have started in some cities and provinces, including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing and major cities in 15 provinces and autonomous regions. The government will extend the practices across the country in 2008, said the circular.

In the circular, the two ministries also demand various localities to strengthen energy conservation in government office buildings and major public buildings to cut energy consumption by 20 percent by 2010, saving 11 million to 15 million tons of standard coal.

(Xinhua News Agency October 28, 2007)