"Energy policemen" are to patrol shopping malls and office buildings in Beijing in a bid to improve energy efficiency.

Operators of complexes with indoor temperatures set too high in winter or buildings that have their lights on during the day will be fined beginning the first half of this year, according to Zhang Mao, vice mayor of Beijing.

Zhang said the municipal government will be recruiting more than 20 dedicated staff to supervise energy efficiency in the city. Supporting regulations will also be issued to facilitate law enforcement.

"We have been advocating energy saving for years but it has lacked bite because of a lack of a supervisory system," Zhang said at a session of the municipal people's congress on Sunday.

He added "the energy policemen" would have sufficient authority to order operators to carry out their instructions and to issue penalty notices.
 
Last summer, city leaders advised large buildings to keep air-conditioning temperatures above 26 degrees Celsius to save electricity. But enforcement was difficult.

Beijing has set "building a resources-saving society" as one of its major goal in its draft of the 11th Five-Year Guideline (2006-10).

The city plans to reduce energy and water consumption by 15 and 20 percent respectively by 2010.

Beijing currently consumes 0.81 standard tons of coal and 51 cubic meters of water per 10,000 yuan of gross domestic product, already much lower than the national average level, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform.

Huang Qian, an official with the commission, said new investment projects that would consume 2,000 tons of standard coal per year or above would have to pass an energy-saving assessment before they are approved by the municipal government.

He added that the government would create a special fund for the construction of a resources-saving city.

The money would be released to develop new technologies relating to energy saving, renewable energy and the comprehensive utilization of rubbish or waste.

Cao Xuekun, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC) of Beijing, said the government should first try to reduce energy consumption in industrial production, which is much higher than residential consumption.

"The government must set strict standards for raw material, energy and water consumption before it gives licenses to new factories," Cao said.

"Besides, the government should lead by example by reducing unnecessary administrative expenditure as much as possible."

(China Daily January 18, 2006)