Building Uses Solar Energy in Dezhou

The Chinese city of Dezhou, in the north-western part of Shandong province, has a population of 5.5 million. All over the city you can see solar water heaters – some 90% of households in the old city zone and almost 100% of households in the new city zone use them. Dezhou is leading the way in adopting solar energy and has become known as the ‘Solar Valley’ of China. The world’s largest solar water heater company, Himin Group, is based in the city. Solar water heaters are a cheap and practical way that ordinary people can make use of renewable energy and thus reduce CO2 emissions and help in the struggle against climate change. According to China’s ‘mid to long-term renewable energy development plan’, the country will have installed 150 million square metres of solar water heaters by 2010, and 300 million square metres by 2020. Combined with other solar power projects, the energy provided will be the equivalent of burning 30 million and 60 million tonnes of coal, respectively – saving energy and helping China reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.