The temperature of all China's air-conditioned public rooms
should be kept at no lower than 26 degrees centigrade, the State
Council said on Sunday.
The State Council, or the cabinet, imposed the limit in a
circular to all central and local government bodies, as an effort
to save China's limited energy resources and brace for the upcoming
electricity demand peak in summer.
All government agencies, associations, groups, companies and
private owners in public buildings should "strictly comply with
this rule", said the circular.
Doors and windows should be closed when air conditioners are on,
added the circular, which also sets the temperature ceiling in
winter at 20 degrees centigrade.
The circular also bans air-conditioners with low energy
efficiency from entering the market and encourages users to make
technical changes to make air-conditioners more energy-saving.
China's need of energy has soared as the economy has grown. The
shortages of coal, electric power, petroleum and shipping capacity
are the big challenges that China faces in its development.
On the same day, the State Council reiterated its intention to
meet strict energy efficiency and pollutant reduction targets in an
official work plan.
The plan shows that China will stick to the original plan of
energy saving as well as reducing major pollutant discharges by 10
percent.
(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2007)
