Shanghai will replace more than 2,000 old buses and distribute 4 million subsidized energy-saving light bulbs this year as part of its effort to reduce greenhouse emissions.

It is also working on details to implement a national plan to offer cheaper, energy-efficient air conditioners to consumers by subsidizing manufacturers.

Mitsubishi Electric Corp and Hitachi Ltd were the first two producers that have been ratified by the local government to participate in the program, the Shanghai Economic and Information Technology Commission said yesterday in the lead-up to the energy conservation week, which starts on Sunday.

Shanghai has fulfilled its 2008 target to reduce energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 3.6 percent, and an official figure will be announced next month after being examined by the central government, said Lin Zhu'en, a vice director of the commission.

Last year, the city replaced 1,750 buses and distributed 1 million subsidized energy-saving light bulbs, among other efforts including closing inefficient power plants and upgrading buildings.

In this year's energy-efficient bulb efforts, Shanghai plans to give 540,000 units to 270,000 low-income families. The rest will be sold at half the market price as the central government subsidizes manufacturers 50 percent of the cost.

Nationwide, the government will distribute 600 million yuan (US$88 million) to subsidize the productions of 120 million units of energy-saving lighting products this year, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance announced yesterday, as part of a series of such initiatives to combat global warming and boost domestic consumption.

The 600 million yuan in subsidies will be distributed to 23 companies including Shanghai Yaming Lighting Co and global giants such as Philips Electronics NV.

The program, double last year's scale, is expected to save 6.2 billion kilowatt-hours of power annually, or about 3.1 billion yuan in electricity bills. It would also mean carbon dioxide emissions would be cut by 6.2 million tons, and sulfur dioxide by 62,000 tons, the government said.

(Shanghai Daily June 11, 2009)