China targets energy hogs in offices, cars

Under heavy pressure to cut energy consumption, China is now turning the spotlight on construction projects, the transport sector and government buildings.

China’s legislature yesterday began deliberating a draft amendment to the national energy conservation law that details measures to reduce energy waste in the three areas to improve efficiency and cut pollution.
China pledged to cut energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by four percent each year during the five-year planning period that ends in 2010. But energy use fell just 1.23 percent last year.

“Achieving the target is highly problematic. Energy consumption in some areas and industries just keeps rising,” Fu Zhihuan, chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee of the National People’s Congress, told lawmakers in a report.

Fu said energy consumption in the three target areas has been rising rapidly. He said those activities had not been given enough attention and were the “weak link” in China’s energy-saving campaign.

Shanghai Daily