China announced approval of three national standards for energy efficiency of air conditioners, aiming to reduce the power used by the devices.

The standards will take effect on March 2005, officials from China's State Commission for Administration of Standardization, State Development and Reform Commission and State Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced Thursday.

According to the standards, the air-conditioners will be divided into five levels and any air-conditioners falling below the lowest level will be banned from the market.

Li Aixian, a research fellow with the China National Institution Standardization said that the efficiency standards will further promote the development of China's air conditioning industry. They will also play an important role in relieving the tension between China's power supply and demand and help protect the environment.

With an increase of Chinese air conditioners, China now faces the double pressure from energy supply and release of greenhouse gas.

The energy consumption of China's air conditioner users also increased dramatically, accounting for about 15 percent of national power consumption. In summer, electricity consumed by air conditioning accounts for 40 percent of the total electricity used, latest official statistics showed.

The number of air conditioners used at home jumped to 100 million and in businesses to 1.2 million.