Accelerating Appliance Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization in China
China has built comprehensive policy frameworks for appliance efficiency, but the next decade requires greater ambition. This report outlines solutions.
This report reviews China’s national and local policy progress on energy efficiency standards and incentives for appliances and industrial equipment. It uses CLASP’s Mepsy tool to assess technical potential, emissions reductions, and policy impacts.
The analysis focuses on industrial systems—including motors, boilers, transformers, pumps, fans, and compressors—as well as cooling and refrigeration, lighting, heat pumps, data centers, and refrigerants.
Key Findings
- Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) are effective, but updates must be accelerated to keep pace with technological advancements.
- The largest efficiency gains come from shifting from products to systems.
- Efficient, low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants are critical for future energy and climate goals.
- Stronger labeling and digital compliance can improve market transparency.
- Carbon footprint and carbon efficiency standards are the next policy frontier.
- Efficiency improvements are a cost-effective decarbonization pathway.
Recommendations
- Strengthen and expand MEPS.
- Prioritize system-level efficiency policy.
- Integrate refrigerant policy with efficiency policy.
- Build product carbon footprint standard and carbon labeling systems.
- Improve incentives and market transformation tools.
- Strengthen digital compliance and data systems.