One of my China Dialogue colleagues in Beijing recently bought a Philips energy-saving light bulb to replace a standard one.
One
of
my
China
Dialogue
colleagues
in
Beijing
recently
bought
a
Philips
energy-saving
light
bulb
to
replace
a
standard
one
.
He was happy with his choice.
He
was
happy
with
his
choice
.
It may have cost 30 yuan (just under US $4.50) - ten times the price of a filament bulb - but he wanted to save energy as part of his low-carbon lifestyle.
It
may
have
cost
30
yuan
(
just
under
US
$
4.50
)
-
ten
times
the
price
of
a
filament
bulb
-
but
he
wanted
to
save
energy
as
part
of
his
low-carbon
lifestyle
.
And according to the shopkeeper, he would save, in the long run, much more than the 30 yuan he was spending.
And
according
to
the
shopkeeper
,
he
would
save
,
in
the
long
run
,
much
more
than
the
30
yuan
he
was
spending
.
Yet only one month later, his expensive light bulb blew up, before he had saved even a small part of the purchase price.
Yet
only
one
month
later
,
his
expensive
light
bulb
blew
up
,
before
he
had
saved
even
a
small
part
of
the
purchase
price
.
Will he stick to his high-cost, low-carbon lifestyle?
Will
he
stick
to
his
high-cost
,
low-carbon
lifestyle
?
China's environmental organizations have started to advocate low-carbon lifestyles and the decrease of carbon footprints to help fight against climate change.
China
's
environmental
organizations
have
started
to
advocate
low-carbon
lifestyles
and
the
decrease
of
carbon
footprints
to
help
fight
against
climate
change
.
But they have overlooked one fact: in China, low-carbon living comes at a high cost.
But
they
have
overlooked
one
fact
:
in
China
,
low-carbon
living
comes
at
a
high
cost
.
It means buying energy-saving bulbs and appliances, and environmentally friendly building materials and daily goods.
It
means
buying
energy-saving
bulbs
and
appliances
,
and
environmentally
friendly
building
materials
and
daily
goods
.
Cost can no longer be the only standard for purchases.
Cost
can
no
longer
be
the
only
standard
for
purchases
.
An energy-saving and environmentally friendly product is more expensive than a standard alternative - whether it's a simple light bulb or the house it shines.
An
energy-saving
and
environmentally
friendly
product
is
more
expensive
than
a
standard
alternative
-
whether
it
's
a
simple
light
bulb
or
the
house
it
shines
.
For average consumers, even buying an ordinary bulb is a huge burden.
For
average
consumers
,
even
buying
an
ordinary
bulb
is
a
huge
burden
.
How can we persuade ordinary people to choose an energy-saving residence?
How
can
we
persuade
ordinary
people
to
choose
an
energy-saving
residence
?
This is not a trend they can afford to follow; perhaps this fashion is only for the rich.
This
is
not
a
trend
they
can
afford
to
follow
;
perhaps
this
fashion
is
only
for
the
rich
.
Most consumers today do not cause huge carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.
Most
consumers
today
do
not
cause
huge
carbon
dioxide
(
CO2
)
emissions
.
Their responsibility lies not in choosing a low-carbon lifestyle today, but in avoiding a high-carbon life in the future.
Their
responsibility
lies
not
in
choosing
a
low-carbon
lifestyle
today
,
but
in
avoiding
a
high-carbon
life
in
the
future
.
The principle of "common but differentiated responsibility" - a basis of sustainable development - can be applied here as well.
The
principle
of
``
common
but
differentiated
responsibility
''
-
a
basis
of
sustainable
development
-
can
be
applied
here
as
well
.
In China, low-carbon living still is resisted by a lack of social infrastructure.
In
China
,
low-carbon
living
still
is
resisted
by
a
lack
of
social
infrastructure
.
Even if your salary allows you to make that choice, nobody is there to help you accomplish it.
Even
if
your
salary
allows
you
to
make
that
choice
,
nobody
is
there
to
help
you
accomplish
it
.
Consider energy-saving homes.
Consider
energy-saving
homes
.
You need to find out whether or not the developer has used natural materials wherever possible; how effective the insulation is; and what the green credentials of installed equipment are.
You
need
to
find
out
whether
or
not
the
developer
has
used
natural
materials
wherever
possible
;
how
effective
the
insulation
is
;
and
what
the
green
credentials
of
installed
equipment
are
.
You can read up a little, but you'll still be lucky to avoid being puzzled by the developers' marketing.
You
can
read
up
a
little
,
but
you
'll
still
be
lucky
to
avoid
being
puzzled
by
the
developers
'
marketing
.
Many so-called energy-saving buildings are nothing of the sort, and some are even more energy-hungry than the average home - as Li Taige warned in his article "Energy-efficient buildings?
Many
so-called
energy-saving
buildings
are
nothing
of
the
sort
,
and
some
are
even
more
energy-hungry
than
the
average
home
-
as
Li
Taige
warned
in
his
article
``
Energy-efficient
buildings
?
Not always", on China Dialogue last August.
Not
always
''
,
on
China
Dialogue
last
August
.
One of my China Dialogue colleagues in Beijing recently bought a Philips energy-saving light bulb to replace a standard one. He was happy with his choice. It may have cost 30 yuan (just under US $4.50) - ten times the price of a filament bulb - but he wanted to save energy as part of his low-carbon lifestyle. And according to the shopkeeper, he would save, in the long run, much more than the 30 yuan he was spending.  Yet only one month later, his expensive light bulb blew up, before he had saved even a small part of the purchase price. Will he stick to his high-cost, low-carbon lifestyle?  China's environmental organizations have started to advocate low-carbon lifestyles and the decrease of carbon footprints to help fight against climate change. But they have overlooked one fact: in China, low-carbon living comes at a high cost. It means buying energy-saving bulbs and appliances, and environmentally friendly building materials and daily goods. Cost can no longer be the only standard for purchases. An energy-saving and environmentally friendly product is more expensive than a standard alternative - whether it's a simple light bulb or the house it shines. For average consumers, even buying an ordinary bulb is a huge burden. How can we persuade ordinary people to choose an energy-saving residence? This is not a trend they can afford to follow; perhaps this fashion is only for the rich.  Most consumers today do not cause huge carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Their responsibility lies not in choosing a low-carbon lifestyle today, but in avoiding a high-carbon life in the future. The principle of "common but differentiated responsibility" - a basis of sustainable development - can be applied here as well.  In China, low-carbon living still is resisted by a lack of social infrastructure. Even if your salary allows you to make that choice, nobody is there to help you accomplish it.  Consider energy-saving homes. You need to find out whether or not the developer has used natural materials wherever possible; how effective the insulation is; and what the green credentials of installed equipment are. You can read up a little, but you'll still be lucky to avoid being puzzled by the developers' marketing. Many so-called energy-saving buildings are nothing of the sort, and some are even more energy-hungry than the average home - as Li Taige warned in his article "Energy-efficient buildings? Not always", on China Dialogue last August.