On June 27, 2025, the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS) held a seminar in Beijing to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the China Energy Label program, and it is also an event of the 35th National Energy Conservation Publicity Week of China.

Approximately 200 representatives participated in the event, mostly from relevant government agencies, research institutions, sector associations, and enterprises. The seminar featured discussions from academia, industry, and other sectors on the current state of energy conservation and policy development.

During the event, the 2025 version of the energy efficiency label information platform was officially launched, and a joint initiative on energy efficiency label integrity was announced by all participating parties.

Summary and review of the China Energy Label system over the past two decades

The seminar’s keynote speeches, including one delivered by Ms. Li Aixian, Vice President of CNIS, reviewed the 20-year implementation of China’s energy efficiency labeling system and shared recent advancements in energy-saving technologies and product standards, both domestically and internationally. A 20-year anniversary report was also published in both hard copy and digital version. Main contents of the report and the speech include:

  • Through the collaborative efforts of government authorities, manufacturers, distributors, research institutions, laboratories, consumers, and international organizations, the energy efficiency labeling system has been applied to 45 product categories, covering more than 26,000 enterprises and over 4 million registered product models.
  • China’s energy efficiency labeling system has become one of the most extensively implemented, largest in market coverage, and most effective in energy conservation among similar systems worldwide.
  • The report provides a comprehensive review and summary of the establishment, implementation, and continuous improvement of the energy efficiency labeling system across four dimensions, which specifically are Continuous System Improvement, Effective Implementation Promotion, Broad-Based Benefits Realization, and Innovation for Future Leadership.
  • Abundant achievements have been made in energy efficiency enhancement, technological advancement, and carbon emission reduction in key product categories and sectors, including household appliances, refrigeration and air conditioning, industrial equipment, electronic information products, and lighting equipment.

Next steps on the development of China Energy Label system

Effectively support China’s energy saving and carbon reduction policies:

  • Accelerate and enhance relevant standard supply, especially the energy efficiency standards on products, equipment and facilities in emerging sectors.
  • Improve the energy efficiency registration publicizing and verifying service to further support China’s national policy in renewal of out-of-date appliance and consumer goods.
  • Further implement the “forerunner” system in product energy efficiency management to facilitate green transition in sectors of consumer goods.
  • Assist the transition from total volume and density controls on energy efficiency to those on carbon emission.

Fully promote digital and intelligent technologies

  • Improve the service on official information platform of energy efficiency.
  • Optimize the promotion mechanism of green and low-carbon products.
  • Strengthen intelligent supervision on energy efficiency and enhance dissemination.
  • Improve competence on experiments and testing.

Enhance the use of green and energy efficient products and extend the benefits worldwide

  • Actively carry out international cooperation on energy efficiency through global platforms and organizations such as SPEC, IEA and EE Hub.
  • Further extend international coordination to support global competitiveness of relevant sectors in China.
  • Dedicate in constructing a worldwide leading labelling system and contribute to international community with good practice and experience within China.

Other key takeaways from the keynote speeches at the seminar

  • Attending officials and experts stressed the importance of the China Energy Label system and its implementation, stating it as one of the key elements for achieving the country’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.
  • The working goals and measures on China Energy Label in the 15th Five-year Plan period is under drafting. Along with the further development and improvement across sectors in the field, the main challenge for setting the statistical goals for the next stage is that a remarkable improvement may be difficult to achieve.
  • Energy efficiency work in China has encountered certain deep-seated issues, and may require a structural breakthrough.

 

Chinese source of the article: https://www.cnis.ac.cn/bydt/kydt/202506/t20250627_61181.html