Under heavy pressure to cut energy consumption, China is now turning the spotlight on construction projects, the transport sector and government buildings.

China's legislature yesterday began deliberating a draft amendment to the national energy conservation law that details measures to reduce energy waste in the three areas to improve efficiency and cut pollution.

China pledged to cut energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by four percent each year during the five-year planning period that ends in 2010. But energy use fell just 1.23 percent last year.

"Achieving the target is highly problematic. Energy consumption in some areas and industries just keeps rising," Fu Zhihuan, chairman of the Financial and Economic Committee of the National People's Congress, told lawmakers in a report.

Fu said energy consumption in the three target areas has been rising rapidly. He said those activities had not been given enough attention and were the "weak link" in China's energy-saving campaign.

Construction accounted for 27.5 percent of China's total energy consumption in 2005, transport 16.3 percent and government buildings 6.7 percent.

The draft law, given to legislators for a first reading, said construction projects must obey energy standards, and buildings and plants already built will be subject to regular inspections.

It also said Chinese cities will gradually replace antiquated central heating with modern household heating systems that can be regulated individually. Other energy-saving measures include strict control of indoor temperatures in public buildings and restrictions on decorative lighting.

China has built 1.06 billion square meters of energy efficient structures, but the figure represents only seven percent of the total floor space of existing buildings in urban areas, according to the Ministry of Construction.

 A survey by the ministry showed that Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin and Chongqing are doing relatively well in implementing energy saving codes, but other regions are a long way behind in technological standards and government supervision.

The draft also requires governments at all levels to increase investment in public transport, improve services and encourage the public to use mass transit.

China has overtaken Japan to become the world's second-largest auto market after the United States. China's number of privately owned motor vehicles rose 18.8 percent to 22 million in 2006.

The draft said the Chinese government encourages the development, production, sale and use of environmentally friendly vehicles and new types of automobiles propelled by clean fuel, in an effort to save energy and cut emissions.

(Shanghai Daily June 25, 2007)