RSSNewsletterSiteMapFeedback

Home · Weather · Forum · Learning Chinese · Jobs · Shopping
Search This Site
China | International | Business | Government | Environment | Olympics/Sports | Travel/Living in China | Culture/Entertainment | Books & Magazines | Health
Home / Environment / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Half of new buildings fail energy standards
Adjust font size:

All new buildings in the country were designed for energy efficiency by property developers - but only half have been found to meet national energy conservation standards.

The sidestepping of energy conservation requirements by property developers poses a threat to meeting the overall green goal, in which the construction sector is expected to contribute to 30 percent of total energy savings.

"The findings are alarming. More comprehensive measures are needed to achieve the national goal," Song Chunhua, president of the China Real Estate Association, said at an energy-saving forum held in Beijing yesterday.

The Ministry of Construction discovered in recent nationwide inspections that only 53 percent of projects under construction are turning energy-saving promises into action, said Song.

Nearly all of them had pledged at design stage that they would meet national standards on energy saving.

"They changed their minds because of increasing costs," said Song. "They are still building new energy guzzlers."

Considering more than 99 percent of the country's 40 billion sq m of old buildings are not energy-efficient, Song said: "This will worsen the situation."

On average, about 2 billion sq m of new buildings are built each year.

Song said the implementation of energy-saving standards increase property costs by 5-10 percent; and not the average of 17 percent widely quoted by developers.

Energy consumption will be reduced 40 percent nationwide on average if the standards are fully implemented. In addition, this will help ease energy shortages and contribute to combating climate change.

The government last year announced compulsory energy saving standards for public and office buildings, which will soon be extended to housing.

Song yesterday also urged developers to build more small- and medium-sized apartments to meet the challenges of a rising population and rapid urbanization.

He said there is plenty of room to explore to make small apartments more comfortable. "A 90-square-meter apartment is enough for a nuclear family."

He urged the government to implement energy saving schemes and put caps on apartment space.

(China Daily January 14, 2008)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read

Comment
Username   Password   Anonymous
 
China Archives
Related >>
- New energy rules in pipeline for gov't buildings
- Govt aims for energy efficiency
- Energy saving scheme
- China needs energy efficient edifices
- Green performance goals may decide careers
- Cities promote 'energy saving' in blackouts
Most Viewed >>
-Resource-exhausted cities to be rehabilitated
-Frozen section of Yellow River extends further
-'Sculpture' by nature
-Winter storm to continue: forecaster
-Plants and Animals in China
Air Quality 
Cities Major Pollutant Air Quality Level
Beijing sulfur dioxide II
Shanghai particulate matter II
Guangzhou particulate matter I
Chongqing particulate matter II
Xi'an particulate matter II
Most Read
-Resource-exhausted cities to be rehabilitated
-Frozen section of Yellow River extends further
-'Sculpture' by nature
-Winter storm to continue: forecaster
-Plants and Animals in China
NGO Events Calendar Tips
- Hand in hand to protect endangered animals and plants
- Changchun, Mini-marathon Aimed at Protecting Siberian Tiger
- Water Walk by Nature University
- Green Earth Documentary Salon
- Prof. Maria E. Fernandez to Give a Lecture on Climate Change
More
Archives
UN meets on climate change
The UN Climate Change Conference brought together representatives of over 180 countries and observers from various organizations.
Panda Facts
A record 28 panda cubs born via artificial insemination have survived in 2006.
South China Karst
Rich and unique karst landforms located in south China display exceptional natural beauty.
Saving the Tibetan Antelopes
The rare animals survive in the harsh natural environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
More
Laws & Regulations
- Forestry Law of the People's Republic of China
- Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China
- Fire Control Law of the People's Republic of China
- Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters
- Law of the People's Republic of China on Conserving Energy
More
Links:
State Environmental Protection Administration
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Land and Resources
China Environmental Industry Network
Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base
SiteMap | About Us | RSS | Newsletter | Feedback

Copyright © China.org.cn. All Rights Reserved E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-88828000 京ICP证 040089号