Building Sector Energy Efficiency Measures Inadequate

China’s building sector consumes more than one third of all energy in China. The country has explicitly stated under the current Five-Year Plan (2011-2015)that constructing green buildings is a primary means of meeting energy efficiency goals. The Plan means to see a 16 percent reduction in energy usage and 17-percent reduction in carbon emissions for every unit of gross domestic production by 2015.

China launched its Green Building Evaluation Standard in 2006, and the evaluation work was formally carried out in 2008. The Green Building Label, also known as the Three Star System, assesses the building based on several environmental indicators, such as energy and water efficiency, indoor air quality and maintenance requirements.

In 2008, only about 10 building projects registered for the evaluation work. The number increased sharply to more than 200 in 2010.

By the end of October 2010, a total of 268 building projects were labeled as green buildings. Among them, 86 projects were awarded three stars, the highest level. A total of 106 were given two stars.

Yang Rong, an official at the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, stated about 300 to 500 building projects should meet the requirements of the Green Building Evaluation Standard each year over the next three years.

Current methods of evaluation, however, assess the use of green technology in the buildings. Li Dexiang, a professor at the School of Architecture in Tsinghua University, said using methods that assess the green technology used in construction to evaluate the standard of green buildings is not enough.

“In addition to that, the total energy consumption level of a building project should also be measured,” Li said, “Although some building projects technically meet the requirements set by the green building standards, they ignore the final effect on energy saving. They don’t bring any improvement in quality and environmental protection. These are not real green buildings.”

-China Daily