China is stepping up efforts to build an energy-saving and environmentally-friendly society. The focus has shifted from the general public to government officials.

Our reporter Liu Yan has the story.

A proposal issued by the Shanghai municipal government last week asks local civil servants to save more energy during their daily work.

The proposal encourages civil servants to try and not take elevators if their offices are on the fourth floor or lower. It also suggests that government officials not wear suits and ties in the heat of summer except for special occasions, and to set air conditioners at no lower than 26 degrees Celsius.

Luo Yu, a senior official from the Shanghai municipal government, explains that the detailed proposal is a mirror image of the newly-revised Energy Conservation Law, which came into effect on April 1st.

"As government officials, we need to spontaneously respond to the call of the government. We will act according to the Energy Conservation Law, and take a leading role, so that all the public join us."

Luo Yu says many local officials are voluntarily saving energy.
For example, staff members from the city's Traffic Management Bureau do not drive their private or official cars on the 22nd of every month, taking only public transportation on the so-called "No-Car Day."

Similar energy-saving measures are being taken in the capital city of Beijing.

Zhang Junbin, director of the administrative affairs division of the China Insurance Regulation Commission, says his organization pays much attention to saving energy when lighting their offices.

"We've initiated a green light project inside the building. Only energy-saving lights are used. In the daytime when there is enough natural light, all unnecessary electric lights are switched off."

The project works. According to Zhang Junbin, from last July to February, nearly 2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity were saved compared with the previous period.

But this is still not enough. The director says, in order to save water, they have changed their conventional water faucets into sensor-activated taps. They also encourage employees to submit documents through internal electronic networks rather than on paper.

Educational and energy-saving awareness campaigns are being carried out in conjunction with the new measures.
Zhang Junbin says his colleagues have benefited a lot from the campaigns.

"Some of our staff who in the past didn't pay much attention to saving energy have become more careful, not only at work but also in their homes. They all welcome the campaigns."

As energy shortages become a global concern, China has strengthened controls on energy consumption. The central government is urging the public to take part in energy-saving campaigns. Undoubtedly, the government departments consume large amounts of energy, and must be at the forefront of this nationwide campaign.

According to the revised Energy Conservation Law, saving energy is a vital part of the performance rating for local governments and their leaders.

Liu Yan, CRI news.