More substantial measures are needed to promote energy-saving in buildings, says an article in China Youth Daily. The following is an excerpt:

According to reports more than 99 percent of the 2 billion sq m of newly constructed buildings in the country are not energy efficient. The average energy consumption of existing buildings is about three times that of developed countries.

Energy-saving of buildings has been an issue since 1986. Related government departments have introduced several regulations about materials and design standards for energy saving in construction work. But these measures do not seem to work well after two decades.

The primary reason is that all these regulations are not compulsory. Standards are not adhered to and no one gets punished.

Developers and residents face higher costs for installing energy-saving devices. They, therefore, do without them if they know they will not be punished.

Businesses and residents in developed countries usually enjoy tax incentives, special subsidies or other favorable treatment from the government for promoting energy-saving. But such incentives do not exist in our country.

As an important part of environmental protection, the promotion of energy-saving buildings, materials, and technology should be the mission of the State.

(China Daily October 31, 2007)