Home / Environment / News Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Consumers stingy over energy subsidies
Adjust font size:

A new survey shows that consumers want government subsidies designed to save energy to go to them, rather than manufacturers or suppliers.

More than half of the respondents favored the consumer-centered approach, according to the 2008 report on household energy saving, released yesterday by the Standing Committee of the Shanghai People's Congress.

The support rate for giving a break to manufacturers of energy-saving products ranked second at 36.6 percent, while only 10.7 percent thought subsidies should be offered to suppliers. Local government has said it intends to launch inducements to save energy, but detailed plans have not been revealed.

The report also said urban residents consumed 13.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2007, up from 12.2 billion kwh in 2006 and 10.9 billion kwh in 2005.

Similar increases occurred in household use of fuels such as coal gas, liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas. Total consumption jumped 7.8 percent in 2007 to the equivalent of 1.66 million tons of standard coal.

Per-capita spending on fuel in the first half of this year for transport by families in the highest income bracket exceeded the figure for low-income families by 23 times.

The most popular energy-saving product was low-power lighting. The survey showed that 96.5 percent of local families used energy-saving lighting at home. About 54 percent using energy-saving appliances and 14.6 percent used energy-saving gas appliances. The report also showed an age-group disparity in ways to encourage energy conservation.

Residents under 30 favored volume restrictions on energy consumption. Those from 40 to 50 years old tended to prefer price adjustments, while seniors said they wanted government to put a greater emphasis on punishing energy waste.

Another survey of 287 city enterprises found that mainland companies know more about the laws and regulations governing energy efficiency than those invested by Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan interests.

(Shanghai Daily October 14, 2008)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous

China Archives
Related >>
- Subsidies for energy-saving lamps
- Public participation urged in energy saving
- Shanghai to subsidize energy-saving light bulbs
- Great potential for energy saving in state-funded units
- State Council calls for national energy-saving campaign
- 7 regions fail to reach 2007 energy saving targets
- Fuel prices increase positive for energy saving
Most Viewed >>
- Chinese company produces 1st solar-powered car
- 50,000 evacuated as floods hit Hainan
- 10 rare flowers and plants in the world
- New traffic ban takes 800,000 cars off Beijing roads
- New rice hybrid grows on salty lands
Air Quality 
Cities Major Pollutant Air Quality Level
Beijing particulate matter II
Shanghai particulate matter III1
Guangzhou particulate matter II
Chongqing particulate matter II
Xi'an particulate matter III1
NGO Events Calendar Tips
- Environmental English Training (EET) class
- 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
More
Archives
Sichuan Earthquake

An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale jolted Sichuan Province at 2:28 PM on May 12.

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