Best Policy Practices

Best Policy Practices
Energy labels for buildings
Shanghai, China
We take it for granted that our refrigerators
have energy labels, and we ask about the
fuel consumption of cars. Why not buildings,
too – and for a much better reason?
The Shanghai Government will start certification and labelling
of energy-efficient buildings from 2007 onwards. The first to
be certified and given an energy-efficient label will be public
buildings. (Source: Shanghai Construction and Transport
Commission, 2006-11-08)
There is 30 million square metres of buildings in Shanghai
where reconstruction is needed to reduce energy consumption
by 50%. Additionally, under the Eleventh Five-Year Plan
about 0.18 billion square metres of new buildings will be
added.
Besides demonstrating energy-efficient labelling of buildings,
the Shanghai Government’s policy is to provide similar economic
incentives to promote the development of sustainable
buildings and construction. For example:
• Favourable tax policy for new buildings that incorporate
energy savings, land savings, water savings and material
savings, and for energy-saving reconstruction. Favourable
interest policy for pilot projects.
• Establish special funding for promoting
energy-efficient buildings.
• Advance the energy price reform to accelerate
energy savings.
• Encourage the society to participate in the
reconstruction and promote foreign investments.
• Reform of the award appraisement methods.
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