The national standard "General technical rules for measurement and verification of energy savings", drafted by the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS) and other units under the jurisdiction of the National Standardization Technical Committee 20 on Energy Fundamentals and Management (SAC/TC20), passed examination on December 9, 2012.

The examination meeting was attended by more than 40 representatives from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), energy service companies, energy efficiency testing and certification bodies and other relevant units. After careful deliberation, the expert examining group unanimously agreed that standardizing the measurement and verification of energy savings plays a technical support role in promoting the implementation of energy-saving technological upgrading among enterprises, and facilitating the development of the energy services industry;it also plays an important support role in the government's efforts to facilitate energy-saving technological upgrading, promote energy performance contracting (EPC) mechanisms, and implement related incentive and support policies. The standard has been formulated in a way that is scientific, rational and feasible.

Energy savings are the most important output of energy-saving upgrading projects, as well as the core product of EPC mechanisms; at the same time, they are also an important basis for government incentive and support policies. The experience of the United States, the EU and other developed countries and regions has shown that technical standards in this field are of great significance for promoting the widespread application of EPC mechanisms, strengthening and improving the technical foundation of financial incentives in respect of energy savings, and effectively supporting the implementation of related incentive and support policies. In September 2010, at the suggestion of China, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) formally established the Technical Committee on Energy Savings (ISO/TC257) to work on the development of international standards for the measurement, calculation and verification of energy savings at project, organization and regional level. The promulgation of the "General technical rules for measurement and verification of energy savings" not only provides a technical basis for the implementation of relevant policies and measures and a guarantee for the rapid and orderly development of the energy services industry, it will also lay solid foundations for China to take the lead in the development of international standards for the measurement, calculation and validation of energy savings.