Project Scope and Relationship to China's Agenda 21

This project seeks to develop a national programme for energy efficiency in buildings in order to meet the growing demand for heating, cooling and other uses, without jeopardizing the energy needs of other sectors or adding to already high pollution levels. This project is based on programme area 10F of China's Agenda 21 - Energy Conservation and Enhancement of Energy Efficiency in Human Settlements - and will contribute to sustainable human settlements, sustainable energy consumption, and protection of the atmosphere and control of greenhouse gas emission.

1. Background

As the demand for a more comfortable living environment grows along with the economy, the amount of energy required for heating, cooling, lighting and hot water in China is expected to jump rapidly. Total energy consumption in buildings is expected to grow nearly 6 percent every year - up to 199 million tons of standard coal in 2000 - far outstripping the anticipated growth in energy production of 2-4 percent per year. This energy growth, if unchecked, would comprise over 13 percent of total energy consumption in China, and would greatly increase the amount of carbon dioxide and other emissions released into the atmosphere.

China recognizes that the best way to meet the growing demand for energy in buildings, without jeopardizing the energy needs of other sectors or increasing already dangerous pollution levels, is to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Nearly 90 percent of the energy consumed in buildings is used for heating, yet a large proportion of that heat is wasted because of poorly designed homes and offices.

China has already adopted some initial policies and regulations on energy conservation, conducted several research and development projects, and held a number of international exchanges. This project will expand this work into a national programme by developing a set of mandatory energy efficiency standards, based upon thorough research concerning available technology and the existing situation in different parts of China. It will then establish a comprehensive management system to ensure compliance with those standards, through the use of incentives as well as penalties. Finally, it will develop and demonstrate appropriate energy efficient technologies in a number of homes and offices in different types of climate.

2. Objectives

• Long-term Objectives
  • Increase the energy efficiency of buildings by more than 70 percent, and reduce annual energy demand by more than 40 million tons of standard coal by the year 2000. Set standards that will ensure a comfortable yet sustainable living and working environment; meet the demands for energy consumption in buildings within the limits of the national energy supply, without jeopardizing the energy needs of other sectors.

• Immediate Objectives
  • Develop a set of mandatory energy efficiency standards, based upon thorough research concerning available technology and the existing situation in different sectors of China.
  • Establish a comprehensive management system to ensure compliance with those standards, including education, training and the use of market incentives.
  • Develop and produce appropriate technologies and materials for improving the energy efficiency of buildings, importing technologies from abroad where necessary.
  • Develop and demonstrate appropriate energy efficient technologies in a number of homes and offices in different types of climate in China.

• 3.1 Research energy consumption levels and building conditions in different climate areas of China; investigate regulatory, fiscal and incentive measures used to promote energy efficiency abroad; propose appropriate standards and measures for different areas of China.
  • Set up a national expert network to develop means of increasing the energy efficiency of buildings, and exchange ideas and experiences with an invited group of international experts.
  • Research energy consumption levels and building conditions in different climate areas of China, and determine the total number of existing and new buildings that require conservation measures.
  • Determine appropriate and sustainable standards for housing temperature and humidity levels in the next century.
  • Conduct a quantity analysis on the inputs and outputs of existing energy efficient buildings.
  • Investigate regulatory, fiscal and incentive measures used to promote energy efficiency abroad, including tax measures and incentives.

    The duration of this activity will be five years.

• 3.2 Based on this research as well as international technical cooperation, adopt a set of mandatory energy efficiency standards for urban homes and public buildings in different climate areas in China.
  • Develop and adopt mandatory standards for indoor temperature levels in different climate areas in China, including northern cold areas; the Yangtze River Basin, which requires both heating and cooling; and the southern hot and humid areas.
  • Develop other mandatory energy efficiency standards, including wall thickness, room height and cooking systems.

    The duration of this activity will be six years.

• 3.3 Establish a comprehensive management system to ensure compliance with those standards, including education, training and the use of market incentives.
  • Establish a comprehensive administrative system at every level of government for energy conservation in buildings.
  • Establish a system for ensuring compliance with standards, including inspectors at both the government and enterprise or institution level.
  • Develop and implement a series of tax and other incentives to promote energy conservation in buildings.
  • Strengthen institutions for the licensing of energy efficient products and quality control inspection.
  • Conduct training for building designers and constructors regarding energy efficiency regulations, standards and technologies.
  • Promote increased awareness of energy conservation through use of the mass media.

    The duration of this activity will be six years.

• 3.4 Develop and demonstrate appropriate energy efficient technologies in a number of new and existing homes and offices in different types of climate in China.
  • Conduct 7 to 8 demonstration projects in new and existing homes and offices in different climate areas. Include 1 to 2 projects each in extremely cold areas, cold areas, areas where it is cold in winter and hot in summer, and humid and hot areas.
  • For each demonstration project, apply comprehensively the advanced techniques and products available in China and abroad, and disseminate the results throughout the country.

    The duration of this activity will be six years.

• 3.5 Develop and produce appropriate technologies and materials for improving the energy efficiency of buildings, importing technologies from abroad where necessary.
  • Select appropriate wall materials, doors and windows that are suitable for use in different areas of China in light of living habits and available resources. These products may be available in China or abroad.
  • Address and resolve problems associated with mass production of these items.
  • Discover and apply appropriate engineering techniques for construction of energy efficient buildings, including techniques for exterior and interior thermal insulation.

    The duration of this activity will be five years. This activity will be implemented by the State Planning Commission, the State Science and Technology Commission, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Public Health, and the State Education Commission, the State Economics and Trade Commission, the State Building Materials Administration, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Land Administration, and the provincial departments responsible for building construction.

5. Benefits

This project will ultimately benefit the entire urban population of China by ensuring a higher standard of living without increasing pollution levels or jeopardizing the energy needs of other sectors such as production and transportation. It will further sustainable development in China by increasing worker efficiency, creating jobs and reducing the costs of building construction and operation by 4-5 percent.

By reducing energy demand and coal consumption, this project will also contribute towards global efforts to protect the atmosphere and to control the greenhouse gas emissions.