Policy roadmap for very efficient appliances
Every five years the Chinese government publishes a mid-term plan for China’s socio-economic development. The 11th FYP is considered to have been a turning point, because, as the World Bank states, China, for the first time, shifted its focus from quantitative growth (economic development) to a broader and more qualitative understanding of growth with all spheres of development (economic, social, environmental) being “intertwined” (World Bank 2008, iv). Both, the 11th and 12th FYP, enact binding energy intensity targets for all of China’s provinces (see the table below), which are considered to save 670 million tons of coal equivalent (Institute for Industrial Productivity 2012). As local governments are held accountable, it is likely that they feel inclined to also promote policies that increase the energy efficiency of refrigerators.
China has implemented nationwide policy but also gives responsibility to its 33 provinces by setting energy intensity reduction (and other) targets for provincial governments. The question of how these targets are to be met has to be answered by policy makers from within these respective provinces (see the next table below). While this may result in a very diverse range of policies at the provincial level, the central government may conclude which measures have really performed well under real-world conditions.
In 2004, the National Reform and Development Commission (NRDC) published the China Medium and Long-Term Energy Conservation Plan setting targets or guidelines for the industrial, transportation and building sectors. For 2010, it concluded among others for refrigerators: “energy efficiency of newly added major energy consuming equipment is expected to reach or approach an international advanced level, […] and household electric appliances are expected to reach the international leading level.” In particular, the plan also states that China “should promote household and office electrical appliances such as high-efficiency energy saving refrigerators, air conditioners, televisions, washing machines; reduce energy the consumption of stand-by modes; implement energy efficiency standards and labelling; and standardize the market of energy-saving products” (NRDC 2004).
Provincial targets for 12th Five Year Plan Energy Intensity TargetProvince | 11th Five Year Plan achievement (2006-2010) | 12th Year Plan goal ( 2011-2015) | Expected total achievement (2006-2015) |
Tinajin | 21.0% | 18% | 32.5% |
Hebei | 20.1% | 17% | 33.7% |
Shanxi | 22.7% | 16% | 35% |
Inner Mongolia | 22.6% | 15% | 34.2% |
Lianoning | 20% | 17% | 33.6% |
Jilin | 22% | 16% | 34.5% |
Heilongjiang | 20.8%& | 16% | 33.5% |
Shanghai | 20% | 18% | 34.4% |
Jiangsu | 20.5% | 18% | 34.8% |
Zhejiang | 20% | 18% | 34.4% |
Anhui | 20.4% | 16% | 33.1% |
Fujian | 16.5% | 16% | 29.8% |
Jiangxi | 20% | 16% | 32.8% |
Shandong | 22.1% | 17% | 35.3% |
Henan | 20.1% | 16% | 32.9% |
Hubei | 21.7% | 16% | 34.2% |
Hunan | 20.4% | 16% | 32.2% |
Guangdong | 16.4% | 18% | 31.5% |
Guangxi | 15.2% | 15% | 27.9% |
Hainan | 12.1% | 10% | 20.9% |
Chongqing | 21% | 16% | 33.6% |
Sichuan | 20.3% | 16% | 33.1% |
Guizhou | 20.1% | 15% | 32.1% |
Yunnan | 17.4% | 15% | 29.8% |
Tibet | 12% | 10% | 20.8% |
Shaanxi | 20.3% | 16% | 33% |
Gansu | 20.3% | 15% | 32.2% |
Qinghai | 17% | 10% | 25.3% |
Ningxia | 20.1% | 15% | 32.1% |
Xinjiang | 8.9% | 10% | 18% |
Beijing | 26.6% | 17% | 39.1 |
China | 19.1% | 16% | 32% |
Source: Institute for Industrial Productivity 2012
International co-operation
China, especially via the China Standard Certification Center (CSC), closely co-operates in energy efficiency labelling with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and with the Energy Management Corporation of South Korea (Tienan 2006, 23). Also, a grant from GEF was received for the programme to support manufacturers between 2008 and 2010. Information on other energy-efficient co-operation agreements focusing on refrigerators was not available. For a more general overview of China’s co-operation in energy efficiency issues, refer to the Wilson Center (see references).