With rising energy costs, China is promoting energy efficiency standards all over the country. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Standardization Administration launched the campaign and regulations in major cities on Sunday.

From March this year, China divided the energy consumption of home appliance into five levels. Products in level one are in line with international standards and have the lowest energy consumption rates.

And level five is the entry level for the standards. Production and sales of products failing to make it into the five levels will be banned.

The standards were first applied on a trial basis to refrigerators and air conditioners. And after a 6-month preparation period for the manufacturers, the standards became compulsory this month.

Statistics show that by 2010, the energy efficiency standards will help China save more than 550 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. Furthermore, China will extend the standards to other household appliances, and even to industrial equipment.

Yang Tiesheng from National Development and Reform Commision said: "In the future, China will apply the standards to products like water heaters. Vehicles are also in consideration."

To help consumers learn how to choose energy saving products, authorities will provide handbooks in appliance and hardware shops in the major cities. A website with energy efficiency calculators will also open to the public, to let them know if their appliances are consuming the proper volume of energy.

(CCTV.com September 26, 2005)