From 13 to 19 may, the country's 34th national energy conservation awareness week was held on the theme “green transition, energy conservation and sustainability”. The reduction in energy consumption in the first half of the fourteenth century was less than expected owing to multiple factors such as the new coronary epidemic. This is a crucial year for achieving the goals of the “1455” plan, and it is important to have greater determination to eat “hard bones” and focus on energy-saving efforts in key sectors to lay the foundations for a comprehensive green and low-carbon transformation of the economy and society。
The conservation of resources is our basic state policy. In order to achieve high-quality development, we cannot replicate the traditional development patterns of the developed countries, which in the past were based on the massive consumption of world resources and high energy consumption, but instead seek to explore new development paths. Increased energy conservation and efficiency in energy use can effectively slow the excessive growth of energy demand, keeping the total energy demand of our country within resource constraints and allowing the economy and society to develop in an efficient and low consumption, the most economical, convenient and greenest “first energy source”。
Since the eighteenth anniversary of the party, our overall economy strategy has continued to accelerate. Between 2012 and 2022, the country sustained economic growth at an average annual rate of over 6 per cent at an annual rate of 3 per cent of energy consumption, with a cumulative decrease of 26. 4 per cent in energy intensity, equivalent to approximately 1,410 million tons of standard coal, less carbon dioxide emissions and a world leader in the rate of energy efficiency improvement. Between 2012 and 2021, combined consumption of tons of steel decreased by 9. 8 per cent, consumption of coal for power generation by 5. 8 per cent and single consumption of alkaline, mechanism paper and cardboard, flat glass, electroplasm and synthetic ammonia decreased by 17. 2 per cent, 16. 8 per cent, 13. 8 per cent, 13. 3 per cent and 7. 1 per cent, respectively. By the end of 2022, our energy-efficient buildings accounted for more than 65 per cent of civilian buildings in towns and cities, and more than 10 billion square metres of green buildings had been built。
It is important to see gaps while seeing achievements. The energy intensity is the main indicator of energy efficiency, which is now 1. 5 times the world average and two to three times the energy intensity of developed countries. Progress on the “145” per unit energy consumption reduction target is lagging behind expectations, and the task of green low-carbon development is daunting. The party's 20 major reports set out to advance ecological priorities, economy convergence and green low-carbon development. Under the “two carbon” goal, the enormous potential and value of energy efficiency gains needs to be further understood and tapped in the face of the demand-for-energy growth and green transformation requirements。
Energy conservation requires a sharp focus on the three main areas of energy consumption: industry, transport and construction。
Enhancing energy efficiency in industry. The industrial sector, which is the main source of energy consumption and carbon emissions in the country, must focus on building a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient system of industrial energy consumption, firmly curb the blind development of the “two-high” project, strengthen early warning of excess production in priority sectors and raise the standards for energy conservation and environmental access for the “two-high” project. Focused industries such as steel, construction materials, petrochemicals and non-ferrous metals, improve green electricity pricing policies such as differential electricity prices and stairwell prices, encourage enterprises to follow international standards, accelerate innovation and extension of energy-saving technologies, and increase the proportion of energy used in electrification terminals. Promotion of upgrading of major manufacturing product processes and upgrading of energy-saving technologies to continuously improve energy efficiency in industrial products。
Optimizing energy efficiency in transport. Transport capacity will continue to grow as economic and social development increases and the demand for logistics and mobility increases. The development of green transport modes, such as waterways and railways, should be accelerated by making full use of the comparative advantages and combined efficiency of the various modes of transport, in accordance with the principles of “water, land, air and water”. The promotion of “public-to-iron” transport of bulk and medium- and long-range cargo further reduces the share of road-sharing in long-range transport in bulk cargo and containers; increases the share of water-routing cargo turnover and accelerates the development of freight- and water-borne combined transport such as containers, iron ore, coal and steel. At the same time, energy-saving and carbon-reduction technology innovations in transport are being strengthened, with the development of electric, intelligent and shared transport tools。
Deepening building energy efficiency. As the rate of urbanization and the standard of living of the population rise, our energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in the construction sector will continue to grow in a rigid manner, with great potential for energy conservation and carbon reduction. Emphasis should be placed on upgrading building energy efficiency standards, promoting advanced building energy efficiency technologies and implementing green building energy efficiency modifications. Priority is given to supporting the use of renewable energy sources to meet energy needs for building heating, refrigeration and life-heating water, the use of exterior wall heating technologies, door and window heating technologies, etc. To reduce winter heating energy needs, and the promotion of passive building energy conservation, green lighting and efficient energy-efficient household electricity。
Energy-saving emission reductions are a universal movement that cuts across society. Turn off the lights, concentrate on washing, green travel every little energy-saving move is the greatest support for the green transition. Energy conservation campaigns need to be increased in frequency, form and effectiveness, and the concept of eco-civilization, green low-carbon development needs to be actively promoted, and the population at large should be made more aware of savings. A major effort is being made to spread energy-saving techniques and common sense, to focus energy-saving efforts on a variety of users through institutional design, to bring energy-saving activities throughout the economic and social development process and in all areas, and to accelerate the formation of energy-efficient societies. Source: daily economics
