By LI Linxu

In its latest push to green and low-carbon transition, China has stepped up efforts to advance the update, upgrade, application, and implementation of energy-saving standards.

A batch of national standards on energy efficiency in key fields, such as petrochemical, chemical, steel, nonferrous metals, building materials, and machinery sectors, will be set up or revised, according to a plan jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR).

The requirements on energy consumption limits in key energy-consuming sectors will be steadily raised, and the energy efficiency levels of key energy-consuming products will be continuously uplifted.

Meanwhile, the scope of energy-saving standards will be further expanded, to cover new infrastructure such as data centers and telecommunication base stations, and new-type home appliances.

Energy-saving standards are the foundation of a country's energy-saving systems, said an official from SAMR, adding that the application and implementation of these standards will be strengthened.

Photovoltaic panels installed on rooftops of the Riyue Square in Haikou city, Hainan province. (PHOTO: VCG)

Over the years, China has made great strides in establishing and improving the standards system on energy-saving. Statistics show that to date, China has issued and implemented 108 mandatory national standards on energy consumption limits, 66 mandatory national standards on energy efficiency, and 190 recommended national standards on energy conservation.

These standards play an important role in promoting technological innovation, industrial upgrades, and green and low-carbon development.

The plan is a follow-up to the 20th CPC National Congress report, which vowed to accelerate the R&D, promotion, and application of advanced energy-saving and carbon emission reduction technologies, encourage green consumption, and promote green and low-carbon ways of production and life.

A series of target measures, including preferential procurement, tax incentives, or financial support, will be rolled out later, for the products, projects, or enterprises with outstanding performance in energy efficiency levels, according to the plan.