China's construction material industries have a potential market of 1.5 trillion yuan (US$197.3 billion) in the next ten years as the government implements its policy to build an energy-efficient society, a government official has said.

"Energy-saving and environment-friendly green buildings will develop into a big industry as the government has pledged that half of China's urban buildings will be energy-efficient by 2010," said Vice Minister of Construction Qiu Baoxing at a forum on green buildings that concluded on Wednesday.

Currently, energy-efficient buildings account for less than one percent of the total in China.

Experts say the industry will drive rapid development of sectors such as heat insulation, gardening, and solar heating materials, and energy-saving doors, windows, lamps, home appliances and the transformation of existing buildings.

Qiu said recyclable materials would also be much more used.

"The Ministry of Construction will soon formulate a series of preferential policies in taxation and bank loans with the finance and taxation ministries to promote the construction of green buildings."

Meanwhile, the ministry would encourage private and foreign investment in the installation of energy-saving technologies and materials in existing buildings, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2007)