China says government procurement to go green

BEIJING, Aug 7 (Reuters) All levels of the Chinese government will be required to start buying energy-efficient products, the cabinet has ordered, marking Beijing's latest move to save energy and make China's economic growth cleaner.

The State Council order, dated July 30 but posted on the central government's Web site today, said the economic planning agency and the Finance Ministry would draft a list of products approved for purchase by government bodies.

China is aiming to reduce the amount of energy it consumes per unit of economic output by an average of 4 per cent a year between 2006 and 2010, but it has so far lagged behind that goal.

''Government institutions have the responsibility and obligation to buy energy-efficient products to set an example in energy saving,'' the notice said.

Per-head energy consumption by government officials is much higher than for the society as a whole, making the move to green products necessary, the notice said.

It was not the first time Beijing has called on officials to set an example in saving energy. Earlier this summer, officials shed their suits and ties and donned cooler white shirts to help conserve energy used by air conditioners.

REUTERS RN KP0916