China has great potential to cut energy consumption in its state-funded organizations as the overall consumption level remains high, according to a senior official on Tuesday.

Wang Weidong of the Government Offices Administration of the State Council said in an on-line interview at gov.cn the average per capita energy consumption in state-funded organizations, including central government organs, was "much higher" than ordinary individuals in the country.

"Though we have adopted a series of measures, the trend of a fast increase in energy consumption in these organizations has not been totally curbed."

A national decree on energy saving in state-funded organizations took effect this month. It embodied a series of energy-saving regulations on both fully and partly state-funded departments and organizations.

State-funded units at or above the county level must have offices that supervise energy use and audit energy consumption, Wang said.

Reports on energy use must be made annually and submitted to the energy management offices before March 31.

Departments must make annual energy saving plans, and take specific implementations, such as using energy-friendly products; new building projects and building renovations must match energy conservation standards.

Wang said his administration and the National Development and Reform Commission decided to conduct a joint check-up on energy saving in state-funded organizations early next year and toughen punishment on misconduct.

He invited the public and media to better supervise wasteful behavior in these sectors.

Before the decree's promulgation, the country has already issued rules on energy conservation in civilian buildings.

The two were seen as a move that was part of the government's ambitious plan to reduce energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20 percent and major pollutant emissions by 10 percent by 2010 from 2005 levels.

China announced earlier this year it had improved energy efficiency as its per-unit energy consumption was down 2.88 percent in the first half over the same period last year.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2008)