Improving Energy Efficiency in China’s Public Buildings

On August 3^rd, 2023, the Sino-German Business Roundtable on Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings successfully took place in Beijing. 24 high-level business representatives of Chinese and German companies and industrial associations participated in the roundtable discussion, exchanging insights on recent industry developments and how to uncover further potential for increasing energy efficiency in public buildings. GIZ and the Energy and Environmental Services Industry Alliance (EESIA) co-organized the event with support of the German Foreign Chamber of Commerce in China (AHK). The event took place in the framework of the Sino-German Energy Partnership, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).

With the operation of buildings accounting for more than 20% of China’s total carbon emissions, promoting energy efficiency in public buildings is a key element in China’s path towards its climate goals. Large public buildings, including hospitals, schools, office buildings, shopping malls, etc. are the building types with the highest energy consumption per square meter and the fastest-growing total energy consumption among all types of buildings. In recent years, China's climate goals advanced and policy requirements related to building energy management became more complex. Consequently, the market for energy efficiency in large public buildings shows great growth opportunities.

Prior to the event, the Sino-German Energy Partnership and EESIA conducted a survey in June with relevant Chinese and German companies. The survey helped to better understand the distribution of energy efficiency potential in public buildings and its limiting factors in China. Having received close to 400 filled-out questionnaires, the results provide deep insights into current practices, challenges, innovations, and potential of the industry.

During the event, Mr. Yu Zhen, director of the Institute of Building Environment and Energy at the China Academy of Building Research, shared macro trends in China’s policy toward energy efficiency in buildings in his keynote speech. Mr. Jiang Haojie, head of the research department at EESIA, presented the main findings of the survey. The survey shows where further energy saving potential lies, the significant role of incentive policies as well as the existing barriers such as cost and motivation for energy saving retrofits. The following discussion provided a platform for participants to discuss industry trends, technology solutions, market potentials and international cooperation in energy efficiency in buildings.

More about private sector cooperation in the framework of Sino-German Energy Partnership

About the Business Roundtables

The business roundtable is a central instrument of facilitating private sector cooperation under the framework of the BMWK commissioned Sino-German Energy Partnership. Its goal is to share the latest policy and market updates and provide a conducive platform for communication. In cooperation with EESIA and other Chinese industry associations, the business roundtable takes place on a regular basis. It addresses alternating topics within the scope of the energy transition and offers the opportunity to exchange with other industry stakeholders and to identify potential cooperation partners. For more information on private sector cooperation under the Sino-German Energy Partnership, please contact Mr. Vincent Fremery (vincent.fremery(at)giz.de).­

About the Sino-German Energy Parntership

Sino-German Energy Partnership is the central dialogue platform on energy and energy efficiecny between the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) of the People’s Republic of China. The main objective of the partnership is to foster and advance the far-reaching and profound energy transitions ongoing in both countries by exchanging views, best practices and knowledge on the development of a sustainable energy system, primarily centered on improving energy efficiency and expanding the use of renewable energy. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implements the project under commission of BMWK.