China needs to carry forward its energy-efficient lighting program
to ensure the sustainable development of its population, economy,
society, resources and environment, Chinese experts said.
Lighting accounts for between 10 and 20 percent of total
electricity consumption in China, so governments and businesses
should study advanced experience from China and abroad for better
energy efficiency, officials and experts said Wednesday on the
first of a two-day seminar on the promotion of the environmentally
friendlier lights.
To
promote energy saving and environmental protection and to improve
lighting quality, the State Economic and Trade Commission initiated
the so-called China Green Lights Program in early 1996, according
to Zhao Jiarong, director of the commission's Department of
Resources Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization.
The program has achieved positive results. According to a spot
check conducted in 1998, more than 177 million high-efficiency
lamps were installed in that year, saving about 17 billion
kilowatt-hours of electricity.
Last year, the commission and the United Nations Development
Program and the Global Environment Facility, formally started their
so-called China Green Lights Project to further promote China's
program.
The project is being implemented during the 10th Five-Year Plan
period (2001-05). The Global Environment Facility has donated
US$8.1 million to support the project. The Chinese Government, the
lighting industry and related organizations will provide parallel
finance when needed.
Liu Xianfa, another official with Zhao's department, said that the
project has benefited from increasing international co-operation,
with the World Bank and countries such as Japan and the United
States also contributing.
He
told China Daily that the latest step in the project involves the
energy saving for the construction of stadiums for the 2008
Olympics.
China should draw lessons from developed countries in promoting
energy-efficient lighting, he said. It should buy goods in bulk,
set up a government procurement pilot plan and provide subsidies to
consumers who use certified and labeled energy-efficient lighting
products, he said.
(China
Daily November 7, 2002)