BEIJING, April 24 (UPI) -- Rules that went into effect April 1 are forcing Chinese manufacturers of air conditioners to improve their products' energy conservation levels.
Air conditioners consume more than 70 percent of electricity in households during peak seasons and have attracted the attention of regulators, China Daily reported. Market-access standards for air conditioners will be lifted to energy-efficiency grade II from V by 2009, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.
A 10-percent increase in air-conditioner energy efficiency is expected to save as much as 37 million kilowatts of electricity, equivalent to building expenses of four 1.8 million-kilowatt power plants in 10 years or $22.89 billion.
Manufacturers have to upgrade their technologies to meet the government's requirements. As a result, the number of competitive air-conditioner manufacturers dropped from 52 to 33 in 2006, and competition is expected to intensify in 2008.
