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New energy consumption standards released

By Song Hongmei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-04-18 17:13

China released 46 national standards on energy consumption issues ranging from coal-fired power to household induction cookers Friday, as part of efforts to promote energy conservation throughout the country.

The standards will improve implementation of China's energy conservation law, which took effect at the beginning of this month, guaranteeing a reduction in energy intensity and pollutants for enterprises and the supervision work of government departments, said Liu Pingjun, chief of the National Standardization Management Commission.

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Liu told reporters that China currently had 46 standards on energy consumption issues, including 37 newly formulated and nine revised standards, of which 36 were mandatory. Most of the standards will go into effect on June 1 and the others are scheduled to take effect sometime on or before November 1.

The standards involve energy consumption norms on 22 products in five high energy consumption industries such as power, steel and building materials, fuel consumption limits on five vehicle types, energy efficiency grades on 11 consumables for end-users such as household induction cookers and water heaters, and eight calculation and measurement principles.

After their implementation, those items that do not meet the standards will be banned for production, sale and use. Ten to 20 percent of high energy-consumption products will fall into disuse, said He Bingguang, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission.

Energy consumption for such industries as power, steel and building materials currently accounts for 40 percent of the country's total energy use, according to He.

However, some experts were not optimistic about the success of the standards. "What if those products which fail to meet the standards are nonetheless produced, sold and used?" said Jin Yuefu, deputy chief engineer of China Automotive Technology & Research Center.

High up-front costs often blind consumers to the greater cost-efficiency of energy-saving products in the long run, according to Jin.

On the other hand, tight government control over key energy prices is in effect subsidizing enterprises that drag their feet in improving energy efficiency.

The new law and standards will hopefully boost the country's energy-saving drive if the authorities also add other administrative measures to encourage energy conservation in coordination, said Jin.