Cities100: Guangzhou - Energy Audits and Retrofits Mandated for Large Public Buildings

Large public institutions in Guangzhou, China, are now required to conduct energy audits and install efficiency upgrades by the end of 2017 in order to cut energy use by one-fifth.

The Challenge

Due to rapid urbanization and higher living standards, buildings, particularly those operated by large public institutions, constitute a major part of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in Chinese cities. In order to address these challenges and ensure that future development is energy efficient, Guangzhou mandated that large, energy-guzzling public buildings must undergo energy retrofits in order to reduce CO2 emissions.

The Solution

Guangzhou has instituted a plan requiring large public institutions, such as government agencies, hospitals, schools, and cultural and sports venues, to complete comprehensive energy audits and undertake energy efficiency improvements by the end of 2017. In order to target the biggest energy consumers, the plan applies to 206 institutions with annual power consumption of at least 1,500 MWh or a gross floor area of 20,000 m2, mandating a 20% reduction of energy demand per unit of floor area after improvements are completed. The plan builds on impressive results from previous years, in which 31 energy efficiency improvement projects implemented at public institutions in Guangzhou cut annual power consumption by 21,000 MWh and reduced CO2 emissions by 12,000 tons from 2012 to 2015. The intent of requiring energy audits and efficiency improvements for these key energy consumers is to provide examples of green public buildings and formulate the energy consumption standard for all public institutions in Guangzhou.

Social Benefits – By undertaking these initiatives at major public institutions, visited regularly by thousands of citizens, the project aims to improve public awareness of energy-saving measures.

Economic Benefits – Guangzhou estimates that participating public institutions’ electric bills will be cut by about $15 million annually with full implementation of the program.

Health Benefits – As the goal of this project is significant CO2 emissions reductions from buildings, the city anticipates corresponding improvements in air quality.

About Cities100

In its second year, Cities100 – presented by C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), Sustainia and Realdania – showcases leading solutions to urban climate challenges in ten sectors, ranging from solid waste management to transportation. For the first time, this year’s publication features solutions that address the nexus of climate change and social equity.

Available online and in print, Cities100 provides stakeholders an accessible format to explore achievable solutions for climate action in cities, and will be a useful tool for relevant groups ranging from impact investors and development organizations, to mayors and city governments.  You can access the full Cities100 2016 publication online here and read more about how may­ors will de­liver the aims of the Paris Agree­ment in a fore­ward by Anne Hidalgo, C40 Chair and Mayor of Paris, here.