The nation's first specialty market for trading energy-saving and environment-friendly technology opened yesterday in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province.

The China Energy-saving and Environment-friendly Trade Space covers 250,000sq m and is backed by the Zhejiang Zhongcheng Industrial Group.

It offers green services ranging from technology transfer, research, training and product marketing.

More than 40,000 businesses are involved in the country's environment industry. Analysts expect the Jiaxing market to grow quickly in the next three to five years, with the Energy Efficiency Law set to take effect today.

The construction industry is a key energy user, but around 20 percent of new buildings fail to meet energy-efficient criteria, Wang Youwei, director of the green buildings and energy efficiency committee under the Ministry of Housing and Rural-Urban Construction, said.

"With the new legislation in place, environment-friendly building criteria will be clearer and businesses legally bound," Wang said.

Meanwhile, the World Energy Efficiency Alliance, an industry partnership between the World Green Building Council and several Chinese companies, was also launched as part of the Jiaxing market.

"China's growing appetite for environment-friendly technology will boost the industry and the alliance will help fuel the development of this sector," Kevin Hydes, chairman of the World Green Building Council, said.

(China Daily April 1, 2008)