More than half of the Shanghai's public buildings have failed to obey power-saving rules setting air-conditioning at 26 degrees Celsius, according to local energy authorities.

The poorest performance was found in Hongqiao Development Zone, where none of the six public buildings, mostly office buildings and shopping malls, followed the standard, said Shanghai Energy Conservation Supervision Center yesterday.

Altogether 74 public buildings were inspected from mid-July to early August. Only 31 venues, or 42 percent, followed the central government's temperature requirement. Buildings on Huaihai Road M. were the second-worst in compliance, with only 32 percent of the 19 buildings inspected making the grade.

Buildings in Lujiazui were the best, with five of the seven buildings inspected meeting the standard.

No names of the buildings were given, but the center said it has sent the list to the city's higher authorities.

Still, the situation this year is much better than in the past two years, said an unnamed official. Power shortages prompted Shanghai to set indoor summer temperatures at 26 degrees before the State Council, China's Cabinet, published a similar rule in June this year.

All government agencies, associations, groups, companies and private owners in public buildings should "strictly comply with this rule," said the State Council. But it didn't clarify if there would be any punishment for disobedience.

The 26-degree standard was set based on findings that the temperature is comfortable while still being energy efficient. Air-conditioning accounts for up to one-third of energy demand in summer.

(Shanghai Daily August 20, 2007)