A group of 22 energy-saving inspectors went to work yesterday in
Beijing in support of the city's efforts to promote energy
conservancy and efficiency.
These inspectors, nicknamed "energy-saving police", will
supervise and deal with violations of energy-conservation laws and
regulations.
They will mainly target the use of energy and natural resources
in hotels, office buildings, shopping malls and other public
sites.
"The fast pace of economic development, increasing urbanization
and raised living standards pose a great challenge to Beijing's
efforts to reduce energy consumption and increase efficiency,"
Mayor Wang Qishan said at the opening ceremony of the 2007 Beijing
International Energy-Saving and Environmental Production
Exhibition, which kicked off yesterday.
Statistics show that since 1998, the city has spent 120 billion
yuan (US$16 billion) combating environmental problems and
increasing energy efficiency.
The show aims to display new technology and introduce the public
to green lifestyles.
Andy Solem, president and CEO China region of GE Infrastructure,
said he expected the company's clean coal production technology to
find a huge market in China, the world's largest coal-burning
country.
Amid all the high-tech gadgets on display, a kind of reverse
vending machine designed to collect used bottles attracted a lot of
attention.
The machine dispenses coins after empty bottles and cans are fed
into it.
"It's easy to use, and it's fun," said Shen Pengyu, a
five-year-old boy who accompanied his father to the show.
The mayor highlighted the collective spirit of
environmentalism.
"Finding effective and practical ways to protect the environment
is everyone's duty," said Wang.
Liu Qianguang, deputy secretary of the Beijing Energy
Conservation and Environmental Protection Centre, said one purpose
of the exhibition is to convince people that protecting the
environment is practical.
(China Daily June 11, 2007)
