Shanghai’s new green subsidies to drive energy efficiency

Green building projects will receive major subsidies in Shanghai with the aim of encouraging energy efficiency and reducing air pollution across the city.

Property developers can apply for the green subsidy from September 15, said Qin Yun, deputy director of the Shanghai Urban Construction and Communications Commission, which oversees construction and transportation projects in the city.

The local government will provide subsidies of around US$950,000 for each construction project and around US$1.6 million for each affordable housing project. To meet the requirements, developers must install energy efficient devices, including solar panels and shading facilities to reduce energy consumption.

The subsidy for encouraging green design in Shanghai is one of the highest in the country, said Mao Weixiong, a chief architect with Shanghai Research Institute of Building Sciences Co Ltd.

The commission also announced at the press conference that it plans to survey 1,000 of the city’s public buildings by the end of this year to evaluate their energy efficiency.

The city government has also vowed to work with the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission to develop new energy saving measures.