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)