A Pioneering Partnership in China: Foreign investment spurs district heating growth

摘要

Buildings in cities across China have long relied on small coal-fired block "boiler houses" as their main heating source. These boiler houses, however, have contributed to significant air pollution problems in the country, with their low efficiency and lack of effective emissions control systems. In response, the Chinese government has issued regulations - the first, nearly 25 years ago - encouraging local authorities to close down small coal-fired operations in favor of large district heating systems (see sidebar).