Shanghai to reduce energy consumption

During a nationwide environment protection campaign, Shanghai, the biggest economy in China, announced its plan on August 13 to further cut its energy consumption and pollutant emissions by 2010.

According to the announcement, a major goal of the campaign is to reduce the city's overall energy consumption by 20% for every RMB 10,000 of GDP, with the figure in 2005 as reference. Other targets include reducing sulfur dioxide emissions by more than one fourth and increasing the sewage treatment rate to 80%.

The municipal government will renovate major coal-fired power plants, industrial boilers, and sewage treatment facilities. Plus, Shanghai will attach more attention to waste management, with over half the city's garbage to be re-used, double the amount of 2005.

The retail sector is also expected to be more environment-friendly. Malls covering more than 5,000 sq m and restaurants covering more than 3,000 sq m will be the main targets of the projects. Energy-saving lights, air conditioners, refrigerators, lifts and escalators will be installed in these buildings over the next three years. It's expected to cut energy consumption by 15% per RMB 10,000 of GDP when completed.