Prices for energy-saving air conditioners will go down by up to 1,000 yuan (US$146.32) in Shanghai after the city government yesterday ratified a local subsidy to supplement a national-level program.

Beginning this month, the central government has been granting a subsidy of 300 yuan to 850 yuan to manufacturers for each level-1 or level-2 air conditioner they produce, which, in turn, benefits consumers.

Shanghai's subsidy will increase savings for consumers to 400 yuan-1,000 yuan.

The city policy will be effective from tomorrow to May 31 next year. A catalog for brands and models included in the city policy will be posted on www.edo.org.cn within days.

The program is expected to boost sales of energy-saving models and help the city better battle peak consumption.

Level-4 and level-5 models, the highest levels, now account for more than 80 percent of total units being installed and sold in Shanghai because they are cheaper, according to Zhou Ya, chief economist of the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission.

(Shanghai Daily June 30, 2009)