* Full list of cited regulations at the end of this chapter.

China’s current national regime for prescribing minimum energy performance standards is principally based on the following regulation and standard:

• 2008 Civil Buildings Energy Conservation Regulation (“2008 Regulation”)*
• 2021 General Rules*

In connection with the 2008 Regulation, China has enacted the 2008 Civil Building Energy Performance Labeling Interim Measures* to provide for a system of certification and labeling of energy performance. In practice, this labeling system was largely absorbed by the green building certification regime discussed under “Green certification” and was only used in certain provinces and cities. The 2021 General Rules apply to all new buildings, renovation and expansion work of existing buildings, and energy conservation renovation of existing buildings. Buildings must also comply with the specific mandatory requirements in other applicable standards. For details on how China implements its building energy performance and conservation requirements, please refer to our discussions in relation to the green building regime under “Green certification”.

In April 2023, China issued the revised 2023 Fixed Assets Investment Energy Conservation Review Measures*. The measures set out which authorities are responsible for carrying out the energy conservation review. Furthermore, local authorities are specifically required to conduct random post-completion inspections to ensure that buildings comply with all mandatory energy conservation requirements.

According to the 2015 Interim Measures for the Administration of Energy Audit of Public Institutions* and certain local regulations, certain major public facilities and buildings of public bodies are required to undergo regular energy performance audits. Save for these specified types of buildings, there are currently no general statutory requirements for regular audits of buildings’ energy performance.