The air conditioners in office buildings, restaurants, shopping malls, supermarkets, schools and other public buildings should be turned down to 26 degree Celsius, so as to save energy and ease the power shortage in summer.

On June 26, 2005, nine environmental protection organisations in Beijing launched "Setting air conditioner at 26 degree Celsius �C 2005 we promise" campaign, calling on various public buildings to promise to set their air-conditioners at 26 degrees Celsius in order to save energy and improve environment.

According to statistics, at least 300 million kilowatt-hours of electricity could be saved; 10 percent of electric loads be reduced and 150 million yuan from air conditioner expenses in summer be saved if the air conditioners in Beijing's public buildings were to be set to 26 degree Celsius. Meanwhile, the campaign could also reduce the emission of 1,200 tons of sulfur dioxide and 250,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

By People's Daily Online