Top hotels in Beijing have been told to reduce heating in the winter months and air conditioning in the summer as part of the city’s efforts to host a ”Green Olympics” in 2008, state press said on Tuesday.
”Saving power is in line with the ‘Green Olympics’,” Xinhua quoted the vice-chairperson of the organising committee, Wang Wei, as saying. ”We hope that everyone can work together to deliver a green Olympics in 2008.”
The committee estimates that a one-degree Celsius increase in room temperatures during Beijing’s hot summer months will reduce electricity consumption by 10%.
Hotels have been encouraged to set summer room temperatures at 26 degrees Celsius, and 70 of them designated as accommodation providers for the 2008 Games were told to join in the power-saving effort.
This summer, China faced its biggest power shortage since the 1980s, as the country’s roaring economy, rapid urbanisation and rising living standards led to a shortfall of about 30 000 megawatts.
In June, economic planners in Beijing threatened to cut off power to the capital’s hotels unless they implemented 20% reductions during peak hours.
The Beijing government’s Development Reform Commission ordered the rationing, but tourism officials strongly opposed the plan and a compromise was reached. — Sapa-AFP