ENERGY CONSERVATION IN CHINESE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS: Progress and Opportunities in Design and Policy

Energy conservation in Chinese residential buildings merits attention in part due to China's large population, increased standard of living, and high volume of construction. This paper focuses on three major themes: issues exerting an upward pressure on residential energy use, policy for promoting energy conservation, and technical opportunities to decrease energy use and increase comfort. An increase in total floor area, increasing electric appliance ownership, and an increase in demand for heating and cooling characterize the residential sector. Space heating remains the dominant energy end-use. Relatively new buildings in cold regions of China, while a marked improvement over earlier construction, still suffer from inadequate insulation, leaky windows, and lack of attention to construction quality. Energy-conservation standards have addressed these issues in part, but further effort is needed to ensure code compliance. A survey of prospective homeowners shows that energy-efficient housing would best be promoted by marketing the combined benefits of natural lighting and ventilation, better quality, and savings in heating and air-conditioning energy costs, rather than only promoting a dwelling as “environmentally friendly” or offering reduced heating bills. Reviewed technologies concentrate on reductions in heating and cooling energy through improved site layout, building design, building envelope materials, ventilation, and alternative cooling equipment.