The Housing Development Strategy Research Institute in Beijing announced that a recent survey indicates that only 2 per cent of the existing 33 billion square metres of properties are up to current standard in building energy efficiency. The institute proposed that new building codes are necessary to increase energy efficiency in new buildings.

     It is recommended that all new properties have to comply with existing building energy efficiency standards and all the features and ratings should be included in the sales information.

     It is also proposed that the interior of housing units should be furnished to a higher standard. This will minimize further interior decoration by individual owners. Waste from interior decoration work attributes to a large proportion of solid waste in major cities.

     In China, due to rapid economic growth in the last decade, the real estate market will continue to expand and building energy conservation has become a top priority in housing development.