China begins drive to raise energy efficiency in buildings

China plans to halve energy use to heat its buildings over the next five years, saving dwindling fuel resources and helping the global environment, officials said.

On average China burns 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of coal to heat one square meter of housing or office space each winter, but the target is to reduce it to 12.5 kilograms, said Wang Tiehong, the construction ministry’s top engineer.