Since 1st November, 2007, the Provisions for Building Energy Efficiency Test of Engineering Projects in Sichuan will have been executed, which indicates that the untested or unqualified energy efficient materials, machinery and thermal insulation system will not be allowed to be used and the projects will not be put on records. According to the Construction Department of Sichuan, all the new materials and technology adopted in the building design have to pass the test and appraisal of the administration authority of construction department, so as to meet the requirements of the standard for building design. The formal test report shall be issued by institutes with registration and acceptance of the National Laboratory. Any that disobeys the rules will be warned and punished. In addition, Sichuan government has constituted the Management Regulations of Civil Building Energy Efficiency (draft) which will have been carried out since 1st December, 2007. it is said that this document is the first provincial governmental regulations as to building energy efficiency. According to the regulations, if the design fails to meet the requirement, the construction unit will not gain the construction permit; the house sellers shall demonstrate the energy efficiency measures and the corresponding index for thermal insulation and heat preservation; the planning department shall take energy efficiency into consideration when working out the detailed rules of the city and the layout, frame and orientation of buildings. The architecture units shall not urge or hint the design units and construction units to disobey the standard. Energy efficient building materials vary widely. As to thermal insulation and fire resistant materials, polyphenyl grains, hollow bead thermal insulation mortar, crack resistant mortar, fore resistant mortar, EPS binders and foaming concrete are included. “The market of energy efficient building materials has a great potential”, said Wang Jianguo who has long been engaged in this industry. According to Haitong Security, the industry of energy efficiency and exhaust reduction will be hot. The market abounds in the listed companies. And energy efficient building materials hinder a great of business opportunities.

（From China Mortar）