Social Monitoring Report

Annual Report July 2021

People’s Republic of China: Low-Carbon District Heating Project in Hohhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Prepared by the Hohhot City Development Investment and Operation Company and Hohhot Chengfa Heating Company for the Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Asian Development Bank.

This social monitoring report is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB's Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT

Reporting Period: 1 July 2018– 30 December 2018 Project Number: 47052 Date: December 2018

PRC: Low-Carbon District Heating Project in Hohhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Prepared by Hohhot City Development Investment and Operation Company and Hohhot Chengfa Heating Company and Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for the Asian Development Bank The views expressed herein are those of the consultant and do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s members, Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature.

SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT ON LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT

ABBREVIATIONS

ADB = Asian Development Bank DLEB District Labor Employment Bureau DRC = Development and Reform Commission ECAP = Energy Conservation Awareness Program EHSS = Environment, Health and Safety Specialist EIA = environmental impact assessment EMP = environmental management plan EMS = environmental monitoring stations EPB = Environmental Protection Bureau EU European Union FB = Finance Bureau FGD Focus Group Discussion GIMAR = Government of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region GHG = greenhouse gas GRM = grievance redress mechanism HCDIO = Hohhot City Development, Investment and Operation Company HCHC = Hohhot Chengfa Heating Company HES = heat-exchange station HMG = Hohhot Municipal Government HSP = heating source plant IMAR = Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region LRRP = Labor Retrenchment and Re-Employment Plan MOF = Ministry of Finance PAM = Project Administration Manual PCR = Project Completion Report PRC = People’s Republic of China PMO = Project Management Office SCADA = Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition SS Social Specialist SPRSS = Summary Poverty Reduction and Social Strategy

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LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4

INTRODUCTION 8

PROJECT DESCRIPTION 8

Background and Rationale 8

Impact, Outcome, and Outputs 9

Gender and Social Dimensions 10

Labor Retrenchment and Re-Employment Plan 10

METHODOLOGY FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE SURVEY AND FGD 11

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PROJECT IMPACTED PEOPLE 11

Per Capita Income of Affected Households 12

Main Occupations of People Consulted 13

Household Energy Insulation 13

Residential Housing Type 15

Perceptions of Project Outcomes 16

Perceptions of Air Quality 17

Vexed Issue of Subsidies 18

Payments and Energy Conservation 19

ENERGY CONSERVATION AWARENESS 20

Awareness of Energy Conservation Awareness Programs 20

Motivations for Energy Conservation 22

Actions to Conserve Energy 23

Acceptable Targets for Energy Conservation 25

Incentives to Conserve Energy 25

The viewsTargets expressed of Energy herein Conservationare those of the Awareness consultant and do not necessarily represent those 27 of ADB’s members, Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. Labor Retrenchment and Re-Employment Plan 29

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LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 33

Appendix 1 – Approaches to an Appropriate Energy Conservation Awareness Program for the Project 36

Appendix 2 – Survey Questionnaires and Other Knowledge Projects for Project Affected Persons 45

The views expressed herein are those of the consultant and do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s members, Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature.

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LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT

Executive Summary

This First Annual Report covers the period from the 1st of July until the 31st of December 2018 and has been prepared based on the Terms of Reference agreed for the inputs by the Social Specialist as requested by the Project. The Report reports on the findings of a ten-day field trip to the Project area in September 2018 and both pre-field and post-field analysis at the Social Specialist’s normal residence in Chengdu. At this juncture it can be stated quite positively that both programs the Social Specialist is required to analyze – the Environmental Conservation Awareness Program and the Labor Retrenchment and Re-Employment Program will be successful but the surveys and other instruments that have been developed and to be targeted at different stakeholder groups will provide the Project with the opportunity to evaluate its own successes in relation to both plans. Gender, ethnicity and poverty issues are embedded in the Report and for the most part all data is gender disaggregated and where relevant ethnic disaggregated and income-disaggregated It will also serve as a learning experience for both the project and other projects of a similar nature in the cities of Inner Mongolia and elsewhere in China.

In relation to the Appropriate Energy Conservation Awareness Program a series of recommendations based on an analysis of commitments embedded in approaches ranging from goal setting to mass media campaigns and modeling and the different types of feedback that may or may not be effective have been identified. It has been concluded that any Program has to be tailored to meet the ability and willingness of different stakeholder groups to buy into the Program. It has also been argued that the Project cannot develop a Program to cover all forms of energy conservation: that its main concern is whether or not natural gas-powered heating systems will enable householders to better conserve energy than the previous coal-fired heating systems. Generally speaking, people in the Project area are very satisfied with the Project.

The following recommendation is related to the observation that interventions studies typically have a monodisciplinary focus. Intervention studies from a psychological perspective tend to focus predominantly on changing individual-level attitudes and abilities. It is equally important to target macro-level factors contributing to household energy use, such as demographic or societal developments, which shape the physical infrastructure and technical apparatus that condition behavioral choices and energy use associated with these choices. It is therefore important to consider household energy conservation from a multidisciplinary approach. This initial report is designed to assist the Project develop such an approach.

In this energy conservation awareness program, the Social Specialist is using a multi-disciplinary approach to assist all stakeholders, regulators of energy supply, suppliers of energy, and consumers of energy assist in reducing the carbon footprint of over-use of energy. This will serve to assist the stakeholders in this Project to demonstrate how they can effectively contribute to China’s Energy Policy and enable China to be one of the world leaders in contributing to the mitigation of the negative impacts of climate change.

The Labor Retrenchment and Re-Employment Plan is an important sub-component of this Project even though relatively small numbers of seasonal workers were impacted. But the Report has identified what evidence-driven assertions should the Project is able to make based on her interviews with affected persons who chose non-farm employment skill training programs organized by the Saihan District Labor Employment Bureau and those who sought to be retrained as plant operators by the Hohhot Chengfa Heating Company. That less than the numbers the latter agreed to retrain actually chose to be retrained hasThe beenviews theexpressed subject herein of investigation are those of by the the consultant Social Specialistand do not during necessarily her time represent in Saihan those District.of ADB’s How the Projectmembers, has Board implemented of Directors, this Management, Plan can be or replicated staff, and elsewheremay be preliminary in China, in indeednature. in other countries as well seeking ADB support.

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LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT Figure 1 Project Location, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Source: CEIA, July 2014

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LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT Figure 2 Three Heating Zones under the Project in Hohhot City

Source: CEIA, July 2014

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Notes

As of the 31st of December 2018, the exchange rate of One CNY with the United States Dollar is US$0.15541 and One USD is CYN 6.6875.

Errors and Exceptions are those of the Social Sector Specialist and neither the Executing Agency or the Implementation Agency.

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SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT ON LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT

Introduction to this Report

The Social Specialist has been contracted to spend 44 working days on this Project. In 2018 she spent 10 days in Hohhot and 5 days at her home office in Chengdu. This time was necessary because of the need to design a workable awareness program for energy conservation and initiate a survey of different stakeholder groups in the Project impacted area and facilitate a series of Focus Group Discussions. Ideally more time in the field would have been useful but as the Report demonstrates there is some very good data from the field that enables evidence-driven assertions to be made about the Project.

To support the Hohhot City Development and Investment and Operation Company (HCDIO) and the Hohhot Chengfa Heating Company (HCHC) the Social Specialist undertook the following activities that were included in her specific terms-of-reference inter alia:

(i) assist HCDIO and HCHC in the implementation of gender measures and supervision of labor reemployment, if needed; (ii) plan and prepare an energy saving awareness campaign program in close cooperation with HCDIO and HCHC; (iii) design and prepare campaign materials for different target groups; (iv) develop performance criteria, design and develop questionnaires that can be used for campaign evaluation; (v) organize a campaign team and train the team members; (vi) lead and supervise the campaign team, and ensure effective and successful execution of the campaigns; and (vii) prepare an evaluation report on the effectiveness of the campaign, including identification of challenges and successful factors to contribute to further energy saving awareness.

This Report provides observations as to what the Social Specialist was able to make during her September 2018 short visit to the Project site and systematically outline the “road-map” for her activities for subsequent visits in 2019 and 2020.

The Report extracting from the Project Administration Manual (PAM) description on project social and gender impacts has as follows:The project will bring multiple direct benefits to the poor and vulnerable groups such as (i) improving living conditions by access to cleaner and reliable heating service, (ii) reducing cases of respiratory diseases through improved indoor and outdoor air quality, (iii) reducing carbon monoxide poisoning and fire accidents by switching from coal-based household stove to centralized district heating system, (iv) reducing heating expenditure by switching from household stoves to centralized energy efficient heating system, and (v) improving better school and medical environment during the winter by providing cleaner and reliable heating services.

In the context of poverty reduction strategy, the Project would provide free heating services to 14,570 poor households or 5% of the total beneficiaries. Also, the project could provide a limited number of jobs (50 positions during the construction period) to the poor, which may help to support their income. And the project will bring access to cleaner, safe, and affordable heating services to about 441,750 women including 8,000 female students. The project is committed that 50% of the 280 permanent employment positions created under the project will be filled in by women. This could not be confirmed in 2018 but as the Project is scheduled to be completed in 2020 this is when an overall assessment can be made. In addition, the project will conduct energy conservation campaign targeting women and students in

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collaboration with the local women’s federation at least two times during the project implementation period. The Report demonstrates how in September 2018 this process was underway.

The Social Specialist also has to assess the Labor Retrenchment and Reemployment Plan that was designed to ensure that all 141 employees (9 permanent and 132 seasonal) could either be trained in operational skills for modern centralized gas-based heating systems or other non-heating sectors has succeeded or not. It is the assessment of the Social Specialist based on her interviews with this affected group that because different income generation opportunities in Hohhot and surrounding environs it was not too difficult to ensure an outcome that these affected persons were generally satisfied with. But of course, the Project also has to be credited with ensuring that the Plan was fully implemented.

Therefore, the overall thrust of this Report is that as many extant social issues as possible relevant to this specific project that have manifested themselves during Project Implementation have been assessed to demonstrate that the Project will probably been able to successfully reflect the strategy of the Summary Poverty Reduction and Social Strategy (SPRSS) prepared for this project.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

A. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (IMAR) is located in a severe cold climate zone of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), where winter temperatures can drop to as low as –40 °C and subzero temperatures typically last for 6 months of the year. Thus, adequate heating is a basic human need and essential for socioeconomic activities. Coal has been the predominant fuel for heating in IMAR, contributing to indoor and outdoor air pollution and undermining human health. A district heating system with a centralized plant and a network of distribution pipes to provide space heating and hot water is one of the most energy-efficient and least-polluting heating modes in urban areas. Such a system allows heat sources to be located away from densely populated areas and has the flexibility to use a wide range of energy sources. As rapid urbanization increases the demand for heating, heavy use of coal-based district heating will worsen air quality, especially in large urban areas such as Hohhot. Switching to a low-emission fossil fuel, such as natural gas, and emission-free renewable energy is urgently needed.

Hohhot has the highest concentration of urban residents in IMAR. About 10% of IMAR’s total population resides in the city. As urbanization and population growth increase heating demand, Hohhot faces critical gaps in its heating infrastructure. As of 2013, district heating covered only 86.8 million square meters (m2) of floor area; existing isolated, decrepit, and inefficient heating systems for an additional 42.0 million m2 of floor area need to be replaced. The hazy skies above Hohhot already have a high concentration of inhalable particulate matter during winter. Through a decree issued in 2013, the Hohhot municipal government (HMG) promoted the use of natural gas to meet the growing energy demand and address associated environmental and health concerns. The decree includes (i) a natural gas subsidy for residential heating, and (ii) financial support to heating operators that replace small coal-fired neighborhood boilers with natural gas boilers in central business districts. Compared with coal, natural gas emits half as much carbon dioxide, a fraction of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (NOX), and negligible sulfur oxides. Since the decree was issued, HMG has provided CNY230 million in subsidies for natural gas use and switching from coal to gas boilers. The HMG policy to promote natural gas in district heating is aligned with the central government’s 2013 Air Pollution Prevention Act, which requires all prefecture-level cities like Hohhot to reduce inhalable particulate matter by 10% in 2017 compared with 2012 levels.

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IMAR is a resource-rich province. In addition to being the PRC’s top coal-producing province, IMAR has large reserves of natural gas and excellent solar and wind energy resources. In 2013, IMAR reached 18 gigawatts of installed wind power capacity, equivalent to 25% of the total installed wind power capacity in the PRC. The Government of IMAR (GIMAR) plans to increase installed wind capacity up to 50 gigawatts by 2020. IMAR prioritizes combined heat and power plants to meet the electricity and heat demand, rather than electricity-only wind power plants. As a result, many wind farms are forced to disconnect from the grid, particularly at night during the winter when power demand is low but wind power generation is high. In 2013, about 11.3 terawatt-hours of wind power generation was curtailed in IMAR. The National Energy Administration in the PRC issued a policy notice in 2013 strongly encouraging the use of curtailed wind power for district heating, which requires high energy use at night during the winter. Both the GIMAR and HMG are keen to pilot the use of curtailed wind power for district heating, taking into consideration that the current curtailed wind power in IMAR could meet the heating demand up to about 100 million m2 of floor area and contribute to better air quality in the winter by eliminating hazardous emissions from coal-based heating systems. Yet, IMAR currently does not have a business model for using the curtailed wind energy for district heating and needs to gain more insights into the technical and economic challenges before wider deployment. The proposed project will demonstrate a large-scale low-emission and low-carbon district heating system using wind power and natural gas. Because of its easy access to sufficient natural gas and excess wind power, Hohhot is an appropriate choice to demonstrate such heating system. If successful, it can be replicated in IMAR and elsewhere in the PRC’s northern provinces.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has supported two other projects in IMAR to provide energy- efficient district heating. The Hohhot project is a logical next step to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions from such projects through advanced natural gas boiler technology. The project will also pilot a new business model [This information has been removed as it falls within exceptions to disclosure specified in paragraph 97, (v) of ADB’s Public Communications Policy (2011)]. The project is closely aligned with the Midterm Review of Strategy 2020, which identifies environmentally sustainable growth as a priority for helping developing member countries move onto a low-carbon growth path by improving energy efficiency and expanding renewable energy. The project also supports the goal of ADB’s Energy Policy, which prioritizes energy efficiency and access to energy for all, including district heating. It is aligned with ADB’s country partnership strategy, 2011–2015 for the PRC, which identifies environmental sustainability as one of the three pillars of ADB assistance.

B. IMPACT, OUTCOME, AND OUTPUTS

The impact will be improved energy efficiency and a cleaner environment in IMAR. The outcome will be improved air quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in Hohhot. The outputs will be (i) district heating coverage expanded, (ii) low-carbon and highly efficient heat generation system installed, and (iii) a new business model for wind-based district heating piloted.

The Low-Carbon District Heating Project in Hohhot in IMAR will upgrade and expand district heating in three heating zones: Haoqingying, Xinjiaying and Jinqiao covering 29.72 million m2 of public and residential building space. The original project scope included: (i) 21 boilers with a heating capacity of 1,610 MW, comprising 19 low NOx natural gas-fired boilers and two 25 MW wind powered 10 kV electrode boilers; (ii) 73.76 km of primary heating network; (iii) 180 Heat Exchange Stations (HESs), 11 of which will be building-level HESs; (iv) and SCADA systems installed in all three heating zones located in urban area of Hohhot City.

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During the assessment and evaluation of new project component for scope change, the project recognized the improvement of building insulation, which was resulted from the PRC building code space heating. Thus, instead of total heat supply capacity has changed from 1610 MW to 1422 MW, which can serve the same heating coverage of 29.72 million m2. The new project scope will include (i) 9 boilers with a heating capacity of 540 MW, comprising 7 low NOx natural gas-fired boilers and two 25 MW wind powered 10 kV electrode boilers; (ii) 116.63 km of primary heating network; (iii) 192 Heat Exchange Stations (HESs), 11 of which will be building-level HESs; (iv) and SCADA systems installed in all three heating zones. As for the closure of 50 inefficient and polluting small coal-fired boilers in the Jinqiao heating zone, the Hohhot municipal government’s Public Utilities Bureau will decommission according to the applicable environmental laws and regulations, as the original plan. Decommissioning five 29MW coal boilers at Sanhecun HSP will be a part of the new project scope. As the Sanhecun HSP belongs to the project IA, the project IA will perform boiler decommission according to the applicable environmental laws and regulations.

The project component under new scope will improve:

i. flexibility and energy efficiency of heating network systems by connecting and integrating with other existing heating networks, which allows full utilization of any surplus heat within wider heating network systems; ii. boiler efficiency of all new natural gas boilers through the use of pre-heaters and economizers; and iii. urban air quality by (i) closing down small, old, inefficient coal-fired boilers in urban areas, (ii) installing long transmission lines to get surplus heat outside of Hohhot urban area; and (iii) adding non-fossil heat source like MSW.

As a result, the project will further reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from1.3 million ton/year to 1.7 million ton/year, which is additional 29% reduction comparing to the original CO2 reduction.

GENDER AND SOCIAL DIMENSIONS

Summary Poverty Reduction and Social Strategy

Poverty and Social impact. The project will benefit 294,500 households or 883,500 people (30% of total population of Hohhot City), of which 271,500 households are currently connected to either coal- based small inefficient neighborhood boilers or coal-fired household stoves and 23,000 new households. Among the beneficiary households, 20.8% are urban villagers (i.e., urban residents in the near future), 71.5% are urban residents, and 7.8% are migrants. By income level, 4.9% are poor (14,570 poor households) and 24.8% belong to low-income group defined as those covered by the Dibao: the minimum living allowance program). The project will also bring benefit to (i) 18 schools with about 12,000 students; (ii) 35 kindergartens with about 4,000 students, and (iii) 12 hospitals.

The project will bring multiple direct benefits to the poor and vulnerable groups such as (i) improving living conditions by access to cleaner and reliable heating service, (ii) reducing cases of respiratory diseases through improved indoor and outdoor air quality, (iii) reducing carbon monoxide poisoning and fire accidents by switching from coal-based household stove to centralized district heating system, (iv) reducing heating expenditure by switching from household stoves to centralized energy efficient heating system, and (v) improving better school and medical environment during the winter by providing cleaner and reliable heating services. Free heating services will be offered to 14,570 poor households or 5% of the total beneficiaries. Also, the project could provide a limited number of jobs (50 positions during the construction period) to the poor, which may help to support their income.

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Gender impact. The project will bring access to cleaner, safe, and affordable heating service to about 441,750 women including 8,000 female students. Also, the project is committed that 50% of the 280 permanent employment positions created under the project will be filled in by women. In addition, the project will conduct energy conservation campaign targeting women and students in collaboration with local women’s federation at least two times during the project implementation period.

C. LABOR RETRENCHMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT PLAN

Once the project is fully operational, 50 existing inefficient and polluting small coal-fired boiler plants in the Jinqiao heating zone will be decommissioned by the HMG’s Public Utilities Bureau. In such case, 132 seasonal workers will be affected. The skills training will be provided to affected workers and HCHC is committed to retain these workers as long as they come up with the required skill level

Methodology for Participants in the Survey and FGDs

The Social Specialist based on the population to be impacted on by this Project (approximately 580,000 at 2017 estimates not the 883,500 mentioned in the Project documents of 2016) decided that 675 persons should be interviewed for the survey and 200 of these persons should participate in the FGDs. The number of persons for the survey are approximately double the Confidence Level of 95 percent typically required for robust quantitative social impact assessments to ensure as close to what constitutes generally accepted a statistically accepted approach to sampling.

However, the Social Specialist considers that this approach is less useful for the purposes of this First Report than what is referred to as purposeful sampling because the technique is a type of non-probability sampling that is most effective when one needs to study a certain “cultural” domain (beneficiaries of the Project in this instance). While the technique is more commonly used for identifying a sample of knowledgeable experts it does not have to be used only for such purposes. It is also useful for both quantitative and qualitative purposes, the insights of which are gleaned from both purposes being very useful and complementary for this Report. For the FGDs this is not a methodological issue.

Four sites were identified: the townships of Renmin Road, Other Subdistricts, Three Other District Sub- District Townships of Saihan District and the Development District also located in Saihan District (please refer to the map with locations identified). In line with purposeful sampling 168 persons were selected from each of the four districts based on age, gender, ethnicity, occupation, and income status. The PMU assisted with identifying 20 percent of the participants but it was agreed that the Social Specialist should identify the other 80 percent of participants that was undertaken on a random basis during site visits. Participants gave freely of their time and did not expect any payment although refreshments were provided. Four assistants trained in the administration of surveys and facilitation of FGDs were hired on a pro-bono basis by the Social Specialist because they were seeking additional experience and hoped they could be coached and mentored to assist and the activities were undertaken over a 10-day period in September 2018.

The 141 workers directly affected by the decommissioning of the coal-fired boilers were not included in this sample and are the subject of the Labor Re-Employment and Retrenchment Program also included in this Report. Although several offered their own ideas on what may work for an energy conservation awareness program for this Project and provided very useful insights relating to seasonal and temporary employment and the exigencies of China’s labor laws.

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Socio-Economic Characteristics

Table 1 quantifies the per capita incomes of participants in the survey and while not wholly reflective of official data collected by the Inner Mongolia Statistical Office is relatively representative of people that have been impacted upon by the Project. As can be seen the percentage of Dibao is 2.5 percent, which is relatively small by the overall percentage of 5.4 percent for Inner Mongolia but here it must be remembered that Saihan District is over 80 percent urban and even rural areas are more closely akin to peri-urban than strictly rural areas. The percentage of female-headed households (and here the Social Specialist excluded de-facto FHH) is 5.6 percent which is a little higher than the rest of Inner Mongolia. National minorities constitute 6.3 percent of participants in the survey and FGD, which is slightly more than the percentage of national minorities living in urban and peri-urban areas of Inner Mongolia. Lower income households constitute 11.0 percent of people surveyed, lower middle-income households’ 30.4 percent, upper middle-income households’ 25.3 percent, and high-income households’ 24.8 percent. It can be seen that the percentage of per capita incomes of households in the Development District are significantly greater than in the other localities.

Table 1: Per Capita Income (Household) of People Consulted who at 2018 were Living in Apartments or Houses where Heating now Supplied by the Project Natural Gas Heat Supply Plant in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Dibahu 2.5 3.2 3.8 0.5 Status Female Headed 5.2 7.0 6.3 4.0 Households CNY23,500 National Minorities 3.5 10.5 8.1 3.1 Groups CNY31,299 Low Income Households 4.2 11.1 9.5 0.5 CNY13,721 Lower Middle- 12.5 14.9 13.8 2.9 Income Households CNY24,550 Middle- Income 36.0 39.1 38.2 8.3 Households CNY33,781 Upper Middle- 23.6 9,2 12.2 56.5 Income Households CNY45,163 High Income Households 12.5 5.0 8.1 24.2 CNY77,097 Average Household 29.8 24.1 13.0 32.4 Per Capita Income CNY35,587

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Figure 1: Field work to survey the heating area residence, Bayinbashi Community

The findings should not surprise those familiar with per capita income levels in Hohhot. For instance, urban low-income households 4.1 times that of rural low-income households and urban high-income households 2.4 times that of rural high-income households. These differences reflect the level of prosperity not only in China but in the region Inner Mongolia is located in and Hohhot specifically. Another way at looking at this is to take data from the 2019 statistics for Saihan District that are based on data collected in 2018. For Saihan District as a whole the per capital disposable income (which is not the same of per capita household income) averaged CNY 30,733 (urban households: CNY 42,539 and rural households: CNY 16,021). The median income was CNY 26,523 (urban households: CNY 39,244 and rural households: 14,389). Taking the quantitative data one step further in 2018 per capita disposable income increased by 5.3 percent over 2017 but was higher in rural households at 6.2 percent than in urban households at 5.0 percent and median disposable incomes by 9.0 percent and once more rural household disposable income rose by 10.1 percent and urban household disposable income by less at 7.8 percent.

Main Occupations of People Consulted

Table 2 provides the main occupations of the 513 participants of working age that are either in paid employment or seeking paid employment. Some 23.5 percent of this group are employed in state owned units, which generally provide their employees on average higher wages and salaries than in other sectors of the workforce even of some private sector companies especially in the financial and IT sectors have more generous renumeration packages. More males at 26 percent are likely to be employed than females at 21.1 percent. The same holds true for other sectors except self-employed business owners where there are a greater percentage of females at 14.9 percent active compared to 9.8 percent of males.

Table 2: Main Occupations of People Consulted who at 2018 were Living in Apartments or Houses where Heating now Supplied by the Project Natural Gas Heat Supply Plant in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District

Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male State Owned 30.5 35.1 20.2 23.5 18.5 24.0 15.2 21.5

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Units Urban 24.2 26.6 19.5 21.8 16.2 19.1 20.0 23.5 Collective Owned Units Private Sector 18.0 15.0 29.4 30.0 36.6 31.4 64.8 45.0 Companies Agricultural 12.5 15.5 13.4 16.0 11.4 12.0 Nil Nil Farms and Businesses Self-Employed 14.8 6.8 15.0 8.2 14.2 11.0 15.8 13.5 Business Owners Underemployed 3.2 1.0 2.5 0.5 3.1 2.5 0.5 Nil or Unemployed

Underemployment or unemployment is very low but double the number of females are in this category at 2.3 percent compared to 1.0 percent of males. It can also be seen that in the Development District underemployment or unemployment is infinitesimal. However, being underemployed or unemployed does render such people vulnerable and if any subsidies for offsetting energy bills are to be paid sharper targeting of the poor and vulnerable should include this group especially if chronically underemployed or unemployed. During the FGD participants who were underemployed or unemployed argued for any successful energy conservation awareness program they would like to be included but could not afford to shoulder tariff increases or reduce their energy consumption as dramatically as households that were not living at the margins. Indeed, such arguments are correct because unless there is an relatively high level of social inclusion a systemic approach to conserving energy is likely to be largely unsuccessful.

Household Energy Insultation

Energy is conserved if apartments and houses are adequately insulated, which requires ceilings, windows and entrance and exit doors to be insulated. From Table 3 even though all appliances utilizing energy, whether electricity or gas have been included but the key indicators for this Report are what percentage of apartments and households have been insulated. No participants in the survey stated that to the best of their knowledge that ceilings had been insulated, the reason being that costs of installation are very high. However, 62.4 percent had fitted double-glazed windows and insulated doors leading into the apartment or house but not to internal doors. Nearly half of women at 49.2 percent reported that in either the apartments or houses they are living in windows are double-glazed and doors are insulated. Some 56.2 percent of males reported the same. But there was a significant difference between the 92.2 percent of households in the Development Zone and 38.6 percent of households in the other three localities, reflecting the fact that not only apartments and houses newer in this Zone and the occupants have higher per capita incomes than in the other three localities.

Table 3: Water, Heating, Insultation, and Electricity Appliances in Residential Houses in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Cold Water 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Tap Hot Water 65.2 60.5 59.2 61.5 62.1 59.8 100.0 100.0 Tap Gas 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Cooking

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Stove Electric 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Rice Cooker Microwave 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Oven Electric 36.2 41.0 33.2 37.9 35.2 48.1 92.5 98.0 Iron Washing 75.0 87.7 68.5 71.2 71.5 77.2 100.0 100.0 Machine and Dryer Reverse 36.2 41.0 33.2 37.9 35.2 48.1 92.5 98.0 Cycle Air Conditioner Indoor Hot 75.0 87.7 68.5 71.2 71.5 77.2 100.0 100.0 Water Heater Double 36.2 41.0 33.2 37.9 35.2 48.1 92.5 98.0 Glazed Windows Insulated 36.2 41.0 33.2 37.9 35.2 48.1 92.5 98.0 Doors Television 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 and Karaoke Internet 66.2 71.0 63.1 67.9 70.2 80.1 100.0 100.0 Connectivity

Figure 2: The field visit in the pilot community and school in JinQiao Development Zone

However, during FGD with females and males from the Development Zone the Social Specialist asked why occupiers of these apartments and houses did not install ceiling insulation? Initially many participants stated they did not know this was an important energy conservation measure but then went on to state that insulation costs were too high for whatever putative benefits may accrue, and then finally stated building plans overlooked the importance of installation of ceiling insulation. It is correct for households with less than a per capita disposable income of less than CNY 30,000 there is a substantial financial burden but not for middle-income, upper middle-income, and high-income households that constitute approximately 30 percent of the population. It transpired during the FGD that less well-off participants would install any form of insulation if it could be demonstrated their physical quality of life would improve substantially.

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As an aside at this juncture perhaps the building code in Hohhot should be amended to ensure that all newly constructed apartments and houses are required to insulate ceilings to reduce energy use but this a recommendation only as there is nothing in the ToR that mandates such a provision. Few participants were anything but vaguely aware of China’s Design Standards first issued in 1995 and 1998 and updated in 2008 relating to energy conservation and efficiency in residential buildings in the hot summer and cold winter zone where of course Hohhot is located. But it is unreasonable for “laypersons” to be fully aware of such standards although not HCPC or other providers of energy.

Residential Housing Type

Table 4 does not require much comment although the 66.5 percent of people surveyed who reside in an apartment with an elevator are likely to be somewhat better off than the 11.2 percent of people who live in an apartment building with no elevator. Similarly, the 11.6 percent who reside in a one-storey apartment or a detached house or town house are definitively better off. Analyzing their location, occupation, and visiting their apartments or houses confirmed this for the Social Specialist. Village houses by way of contrast constitute 3.0 percent of housing types but most occupants were of lower-income status and physical conditions in most apartments, especially in the winter are quite superior or at least it is warmer inside the room.

Table 4: Residential Housing Type and Average Size (m2) in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage) Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Apartment in 59.4 69.4 62.4 61.4 59.4 59.4 79.4 81.4 Building with Elevator Apartment in 14.2 15.2 5.8 16.2 14.2 14.2 4.2 5.6 Building without Elevator Apartment in 15.0 5.0 19.4 13.0 15.0 15.0 15.0 11.2 One Storey Building Detached 8.9 6.9 7.9 5.5 8.9 8.9 8.9 8.1 House or Town House Village 2.5 3.5 4.5 3.9 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.3 House with Other Buildings and Garden Average 54.9 58.9 58.9 58.9 54.9 54.9 74.9 84.9 Total Space (m2) Average 44.9 48.9 46.9 44.9 44.9 44.9 64.9 69.9 Living Space (m2) Average 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 Number of Rooms During the FGD many participants pointed out that the physical quality of housing infrastructure is an important determinant as to whether people can actually conserve energy. The general consensus was

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that better designed apartments and houses even if substantially larger than the average sized apartment or house and are “energy-proofed” are likely to enable the occupants to conserve more energy than people occupying inferior housing. The underlying argument here is that better-off households can be more conservation-minded than less well-off households because they have superior physical housing conditions. In Saihan during the heating season, which of course is essentially the long winter months from September to April – although it is claimed Hohhot only experiences 2.5 months of “freezing weather” – being able to occupy superior housing definitively sets such householders apart from other householders. HCPC needs to be mindful of the structural inequalities associated with different standards of housing when assessing the ability and willingness of householders to participate in any energy conservation awareness program.

Perceptions of Project Outcomes

Table 5 provides probably the most important qualitative data in this Report because it quantifies pre- Project and post-Project perceptions of participants in the survey of the quality of the heating service and the findings are very positive indeed. Some 40.3 percent of participants from the four sites stated that pre-Project described as uncomfortably cold but post-Project not one participant described their apartments or houses as uncomfortably cold (this being defined as with an ambient room temperature of less than 10C). Likewise, 41.7 percent stated that pre-Project that their apartments and houses were quite cold (this being defined as less than 16C) and if perceptions of being uncomfortably cold and relatively cold then 82 percent of participants were living in poorly heated apartments and houses during the heating season.

Table 5: Pre Project and Project Perceptions of Quality of Heating Service in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage) Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Pre-Project Uncomfortably 35.2 41.2 54.6 30.5 Cold Quite 44.3 51.6 35.9 35.2 Cold Quite 1.5 4.2 3.5 26.4 Comfortable Relatively 8.9 2,5 4.8 3.9 Hot Uncomfortably 1.5 0.5 Nil 4.0 Hot Other 0.5 Nil 1.2 Nil Perceptions Project Uncomfortably Nil Nil Nil Nil Cold Quite Nil Nil Nil Nil Cold Quite 79.5 82.6 75.8 100.0 Comfortable Relatively 20.5 17.4 24.2 Nil Hot Uncomfortably Nil Nil Nil Nil Hot Other Nil Nil Nil Nil Perceptions

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Figure 3: Sanhe Village Heat Supply Company, conduct heat supply survey and service survey

Only 8.9 percent of participants pre-Project considered they were quite comfortable (and most of these were males in the Development Zone but this can be explained also by the fact that males tend to spend more time in the evenings, even during the winter out socializing with other males) compared to a highly significant 84.4 percent of participants post-Project. Pre-Project 7.0 percent of participants considered their apartments to be either relatively hot or too hot and post-Project the percentage increased to 20.7 percent. This can be partially explained by thermostats that are not working as they should and it provides an opportunity for HCPC to assist households adjust their thermostats or replace radiators that are not functioning very well.

This also has to be seen in the context of ideal ambient room temperatures and recommendations of the World Health Organization. It argues that temperatures lower than 16C and with humidity in excess of 65 percent are often associated with a range of allergies and the ideal minimum for healthy adults overnight is 18C. However, the WHO also argues that a higher minimum temperature of 200C is more necessary for children, the elderly, and those with cardiorespiratory and other chronic diseases. Not all participants were aware of the overnight temperatures, especially as argued above those with faulty thermostats but the extant issue in relation to any energy conservation awareness program is that ideal heating temperatures depend on the age and health status of household members. Households with children, aged or chronically ill members are likely to require more energy to be expended on them than in households with adult members in good health. This is why a blanket approach to reducing energy consumption targets has to be tempered with the degree of vulnerability within specific households. However, it can be largely argued that the Project has enable households to meet at the very least WHO room temperature standards that have been proven over time to contribute to improvements in the physical quality of life.

Perceptions of Air Quality

The perceptions from Table 6 very clearly state that as a result of the Project there are fewer days with smog and haze and there are very differences between the four districts or between females and males. While not too many participants, especially older participants understood what particulate matter (PM2) or the significant total suspended particles (sulfur dioxide SO2 and nitrogen oxide NO2) constituted their empirical observations of a physical decrease in smog and haze are perceptions than cannot be ignored. During the FGD the facilitators spent some time explaining the environmental significance of PM2, SO2 and NO2 and were assisted by Middle and Senior High School students who now study such issues. It

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can be seen that the Project afforded greater opportunities for outdoor activities although not as great as the Social Specialist envisaged, they would. But if we consider over half of participants at 55.8 percent, females at 52.9 percent were marginally less than males at 53.9 percent to consider that there have been greater opportunities for outdoor activities during the heating season.

Table 6: Perceptions of Air Quality Improvement in Saihan District (N=675) (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Fewer Days with 85.2 79.5 87.1 82.0 79.1 75.0 80.2 82.5 Smog and Haze Decrease in 75.1 69.4 72.0 78.9 65.0 62.7 35.2 40.6 Respiratory Diseases Decrease in 10.5 12.2 8.9 10.1 7.2 7.9 3.5 0.5 Lung Diseases Greater Opportunities 65.1 58.4 52.7 49.2 48.0 45.9 65.0 62.3 for Outdoor Activities Improvements Not 14.8 20.5 12.9 18.0 20.9 25.0 19.8 17.5 Especially Noticeable

However, what is also very important and is reflected in Table 6 is that there has been a highly significant decrease in respiratory diseases. During the FGD many participants bot male and female also lesser numbers in the Development District stated there has been a significant decrease in chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other acute respiratory diseases, which not only result in significant physical discomfort but also in some instances lost income through not being able to work normally. In relation to lung diseases these same FGD participants stated that lung cancer has been a major problem even for passive smokers and they know the prognosis for survival beyond five years is not very good. A consensus emerged during FGD that a natural gas-powered heating system was vastly superior for preventing the development of debilitating diseases including longer-term neurological problems, such as cognitive decline and dementia.

It would be fair comment to argue that the Project apart from significantly improving indoor comfort for beneficiaries also both within the physical confines of the apartment or house has also significantly contributed to an overall AQI Improvement as measured by PM2.5 ug/m3 in September 2018 was 46.5 compared to urban areas in China still relying on coal, especially in Inner Mongolia that averaged 112.5, which by any estimation is a highly significant difference. With a PM2.5 reading at this level the people in the four Project districts could safely participate in outdoor activities such as group meetings, dining in the open, and even vigorous exercise without the need to wear masks.

Vexed Issues of Subsidies

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The Project being partially financed by the ADB wants to ensure that no-one is left behind, that the poor and vulnerable are targeted so that they too can benefit from improved heating arrangements during the heating season, and a greater degree of social inclusion can be facilitated if the Project can be leveraged vis the payment of subsidies. Table 7 quantifies that 28.2 percent of households connected to the heating system enjoy some form of subsidy, which includes 10.0 percent of specific work units (largely the urban collective work units and 4.4 percent of low income (includes female-headed households, national minorities, and other vulnerable groups such as the elderly living alone) receive some type of subsidy. A very small percentage of households at 2.1 percent receive a subsidy from the service provider (HCPC was mentioned) and there are no other sources of support

Table 7: Receipt of Subsidies and Sources of Subsidies for Energy Consumption in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Connected to 65.2 70.8 61.5 72.5 63.9 69.6 75.1 79.2 Heating System Total of HH 21.5 10.5 14.4 17.9 10.2 12.5 12.5 15.9 with Subsidies Work Unit of 10.1 15.2 6.7 12.5 2.5 5.0 12.5 15.9 HH Members Subsidy for 12.5 6.1 4.2 3.1 4.5 3.5 1.5 0.5 Low Income Subsidy Nil Nil 2.7 1.9 5.2 7.2 Nil Nil Provided by Service Provider Other Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Sources

In Table 8 it is demonstrated that 24.0 percent of people surveyed strongly support the payment of indirect subsidies but this is very skewed because in the Development District 75.4 percent of people strongly support the payment of indirect subsidies. If the Development District is excluded only 6.8 percent are in support. Indeed, excluding the Development District 20.0 percent think this is not a very good idea.

Table 8: Indirect versus Direct Subsidies in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Strongly 2.6 4.9 10.1 14.2 3.2 6.1 75.1 75.8 Supported Not a Very 34.8 14.1 30.5 19.1 11.1 10.3 Nil Nil Good Idea Depends on 50.1 65.2 54.5 61.5 65.6 59.0 24.9 24.2 the Context No Real 12.5 15.8 4.9 5.2 20.1 24.6 Nil Nil Opinion

Instead, some 59.3 percent stated it depends on the context the main argument being should everyone or only those suffering real economic hardship be subsidized but they should be directly subsidized.

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Others could be incentivized if they agreed to conserve energy and this issue is discussed elsewhere in this Report.

Payments and Energy Conservation Paying for heating is a necessary for all participants but Table 9 demonstrates that there are some significant differences between females and males in the context of modalities for payment ranging from one-time payments prior to the start of the heating season, paying monthly during the heating season, and paying monthly during the entire year. Some 38.5 percent of participants prefer a one-time advance payment but females at 11.4 percent were significantly less likely to express this preference compared to 27.4 percent of males. Significantly neither females or males in the Development District expressed such a preference arguing that such payments make a good deal of sense when consumers have to pay for units of gas consumed during the heating season. Males with the exception of the Development District (and if this District is excluded 73.1% of males prefer this system of payment).

Table 9: Payment Modalities for Heating Bill Payment in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male One Time 26.5 78.3 30.5 72.1 34.5 68.9 Nil Nil Payment Prior to Start of Heating Season Pay Monthly 70.2 18.9 64.8 25.6 59.8 28.5 Nil Nil During Heating Season Pay Monthly 3.3 1.3 4.2 2.3 5.7 Nil 100.0 100.0 During Entire Year Other Nil 1.5 0.5 Nil Nil 2.6 Nil Nil Modalities

This is in marked contrast to paying on a monthly basis where females were more likely to prefer to pay on a monthly basis during the actual heating system. Just over one-third of participants at 33.4 percent preferred this system of payment, female’s 24.3 percent and male’s 19.5 percent but the same distortion appears when the Development District is excluded: percentages become 44.6 percent, 64.9 percent, and 24.3 percent (a significant difference of 40.6% between females and males). The difference between females and males in this respect is that female participants argued is reflective of the fact that females are responsible for managing the household budget than males and have a better understanding of the dynamics associated with household budget management, which affects households differently dependent on the source of their incomes and also their variability that in the case of non-waged and salaried households might be irregular. As Table 9 above reflects there is little support for other modalities but it is also important to remember that China in 2018 has moved quite far down the path to cashless transfers electronically for a whole variety of goods and services not just the payment of energy bills.

To relate this argument to the substantive concerns of this Report as will be mentioned when examining data from Tables 13 and 15 energy conservation awareness programs simply have to also consider the importance of monetary issues. How and when people pay or choose not to pay or cannot pay for whatever reason does determine on both a micro and macro basis whether people are able and willing to participate in such a program designed to sensitize them to the sustainable use of energy. Better off

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households – those with income earners on above average wages and salaries of CNY 75,885 in 2018 in the state owned, urban collective and private sector in Saihan District – do not have to worry about household expenditure to anywhere near the same extent that lower income earners on average wages of CNY 43,678 or semi-rural households with equivalent income of CNY 21,500. This means they are less likely to be as concerned with financial issues and can use energy including gas heating as much as they like during the long cold months of winter. Poorer households on the other hand, while also striving to keep warm and living in apartments and houses that are less well insulated do have to be more concerned with whether they should conserve energy.

It is axiomatic but well insulated buildings use less energy but poorer households cannot necessarily afford to insulate their apartments and houses. A recurrent theme influencing this Report is that socio- economic differences are also partly embedded in income inequality, which of course is not unique to Saihan, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia or China as a whole but everywhere in the world.

Awareness of Energy Conservation Program

In September 2018 a small majority of females in the Renmin Road Subdistrict were aware of a generic conservation awareness programs not related to this Project, a slender majority of females in the three district townships, nearly half in the other subdistricts of Saihan District, and a substantial majority of females in the Development District according to the survey undertaken by the Social Specialist and quantified in Table 11 below. By way of contrast apart from the Development District less than 40 percent of males surveyed claimed that were aware of any such programs. When males were asked why they were less aware than females they largely replied they either had not been specifically targeted or were not interested. Not being specifically targeted is a fairly plausible quantitative explanation but not being interested is less plausible qualitative explanation.

This led to a discussion with many male discussants as to whether only women were interested in energy conservation awareness programs because women intuitively had a higher degree of environmental awareness. However, both females and males that participated in the interviews and focus group discussions rejected this argument on the ground that conservation awareness has very little to do with innate or inherent gender differences. Thus, the Social Specialist tentatively concludes that it is not only an issue of also targeting males but the latter have to be encouraged aka motivated to participate in such programs.

Table 11: Awareness of Energy Conservation Program in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Awareness of 55.2 38.9 49.0 35.6 50.1 42.3 75.1 74.9 Programs No 44.8 61.1 51.0 64.4 49.9 57.7 24.9 25.1 Awareness of Programs Sources of Information TV and 33.1 37.0 38.9 30.2 41.0 39.5 55.2 50.1 Newspapers Social Media 25.0 19.2 22.1 20.5 30.5 28.7 32.5 37.8 Platforms Heating 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 10.2 15.7 21.2 18.9 Service Provider

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Public Sector 10.1 15.3 12.8 10.0 14.5 11.0 9.2 7.0 Officials Mass 5.7 1.2 8.3 6.2 12.8 10.4 2.1 1.4 Organizations and CSOs Educational 15.6 20.2 10.5 12.9 8.2 10.1 20.5 23.6 Institutions Local 8.2 3.5 13.8 11.5 10.1 8,9 0,5 0.5 Community Social Organizations Relatives, 4.0 2.8 6.9 4.1 12.5 7.2 1.5 0.9 Friends and Neighbors Multiple 12.7 12.4 14.1 8.1 16.5 16.4 17.8 17.3 Sources

Shifting the focus of the analysis to sources of information females aware of such programs were somewhat more likely to be informed by television and newspapers than males but for the most part the data reveals that the differences varied from being less informed in the Renmin Road Subdistrict by a small percentage of 3.9 percent in favor of males to a somewhat higher percentage of 8.7 percent in the other subdistricts. Likewise with the growth in social media platforms, which are still somewhat less pervasive than television and newspapers compared to larger cities in China such as Beijing or Chengdu the differences between female and male are not very significant, the most significant difference being 5.8 percent in the Renmin Road Subdistrict and the least significant difference of 1.6 percent being in the other subdistricts. But it is argued here with the increasing ownership of and use of smartphones and the increasing popularity of social media platforms that social media is likely to become even more pervasive prior to the projected end of the Project in 2021. At the time the Project was being prepared and in the initial stages of its implementation social media platforms were much less important than the traditional sources of information gleaned from television and the newspapers.

HCPC was the Heating Service Provider and has not been a source of information in the Renmin Road Subdistrict or the other Subdistricts of Saihan District but it appears in the three townships of the district and the Development District HCPC has been somewhat important ranging from 15.7 percent of males in the three townships to 21.2 percent of females in the Development District. This should not be construed as tardiness because the Project tasked HCPC with mobilizing a consultant to develop and implement a Project specific Conservation Awareness Program, which as per this Report is being undertaken. Public Sector Officials, especially those more than vaguely aware of China’s 2030 Energy Strategy to reduce carbon emissions circa 2030 and to achieve a 20 percent non-fossil energy supply system by that time have also been a source of information although perhaps less significant than it should be are less a source of information than educational institutions.

As will be argued elsewhere in this section the technical details of this strategy and as embedded in China’s nationally determined contribution to the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change is not very well understood in Hohhot even three years later in 2018. However, whatever information is available while very important is somewhat abstract and esoteric at the local level. Nevertheless, the Social Specialist argues that the Energy Conservation Awareness Program will need to achieve where possible synergies between China’s Energy Strategy at the national and global level and its ramifications for beneficiaries of the Project’s Natural Gas Heat Supply Plants.

Mass Organizations and Civil Society Organizations are less a source of information on environmental conservation awareness programs than they are in some societies, both less economically and socially advanced societies than China but also for instance in European Union societies and societies such as

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Japan. Survey participants, especially women identified the All-China Women’s Federation and several “CSO’s” that they could specifically name as offering some truncated forms of environmental conservation awareness although not directly related to energy conservation and reduction in carbon emissions or linked to this Project. In conjunction with the quasi-environmental activities of these organizations has been the development of Social Organizations in the Saihan District. At the time of this Report being prepared several of these Social Organizations are in the process of developing environmental conservation awareness programs and the Social Specialist is tempting to determine whether she can work with these social organizations.

Relatives, friends and neighbors on an informal basis are a source of information about environmental conservation issues but in neither a systematic or systemic manner but such interactions cannot be completely overlooked. As nearly 5 percent of people who either participated in the survey or FGDs identified such groups as being a source of information they have a useful role to play in providing information even if it is very ad hoc and informal. In all known societies the role of relatives, friends and neighbors can be more influential than quantitative social impact analyses suggest.

However, as Table 11 also demonstrates in actuality there are multiple sources of information that people rely on. Statistically they do not look very significant and the differences between females and males in this respect with the exception of other subdistricts of 6 percent are not very significant. What this points to is the necessity to implement an environmental conservation awareness program that does not simply rely on one source.

Motivations for Energy Conservation

Table 12 below summarizes the results of the quantitative survey undertaken by the Social Specialist and it is very pleasing to note that only 3.1 percent of participants in the survey unequivocally expressed they had no motivation whatsoever but at the other end of the spectrum 94.1 percent of participants expressed a very strong desire for a cleaner and greener local environment. In the FGDs this was even more strongly stated and as the data from Table 12 demonstrates women have a somewhat greater motivation than men except in the Development District. However, even those very small number of largely men who stated when being interviewed that actually they too desired a cleaner and greener local environment. Therefore, despite survey responses the Social Specialist argues in reality everyone really desires a cleaner and greener local environment. It was also clear that people consider the Project’s replacement of coal as the principal fuel for heating with natural gas has really contributed to a cleaner and greener environment.

Table 12: Motivations for Energy Conservation in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Reduce Household 37.5 20.9 42.5 30.6 40.1 29.6 3.8 4.2 Energy Use Payments Desire Cleaner and 100.0 89.5 94.6 81.2 97.3 89.5 100.0 100.0 Greener Local Environment Reduce CO2 Emissions 12.5 10.2 15.5 17.8 18.2 12.9 32.5 40.5 Locally

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Support China’s 65.2 70.2 69.5 75.4 72.0 75.1 82.1 85.0 Energy Policy Join Hands with the 3.5 1.8 4.5 2.1 4.1 2.9 15.5 13.8 Global Community Have No 0.5 5.5 1.2 6.2 1.5 8.9 Nil 0.5 Motivation Whatsoever

Interestingly 74.3 percent of all participants supported China’s Energy Policy even if very few were clear as to the “nuts-and-bolts” of this actual policy. At the very least there was a clear recognition that China’s cities including Hohhot and other cities such as Baotou (generally poorer air quality than Hohhot) and Tongliao (generally better air quality than Hohhot) need to rely less on coal for heating than it has in the living memory of all participants. However, with the exception of the Development District – and here there were significantly less than half of participants – that understood the linkage between reducing carbon emissions through the conservation of energy. Although some of the more technically minded males and to slightly lesser extent females (20.3% compared to 19.6%) argued that while natural gas contributed less to carbon emissions than coal as a fossil fuel it nevertheless still contributed significantly more to carbon emissions than solar and wind powered sources of alternative generation technologies.

A small number of both females and males could quantify carbon emissions from even the “cleanest” coal being the equivalent of 1000g of CO2 per kilowatt hour and while natural gas emits 30-40 percent less it still significantly higher than the 40g of CO2 per kilowatt hour from solar generated energy. This small group also pointed out that natural gas is highly flammable, toxic, and the infrastructure is expensive. But there was consensus that natural gas is environmentally superior to coal. Nevertheless, at least two ethnic Mongolians participating in one of the FGD pointed out that for some Han Chinese living in Inner Mongolia mining coal has provided employment opportunities that never existed in the past and would oppose the cessation of coal mining. Thus, there are nuances in this whole “debate” and they impact upon any energy conservation awareness program but the consultations during this first visit to Hohhot in September 2018 demonstrate there are some local people that are very knowledgeable and their role in raising the level of awareness should not be overlooked.

Joining hands with the global community does not hold much attraction for participants because most argued that the “global community” especially in Western countries seeks or apportion much too much blame to China for the current and future state of the environment. Even those who know little or nothing about climate change and global warming issues associated with international instruments such as the Kyoto Protocol or the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change are aware that China is always singled out and quite unfairly in their opinion criticized for not doing more. A “standard total view” if there is one based on an analysis of the consultations undertaken by the Social Specialist is that the Project is contributing to a reduction in carbon emissions (when the extant issue is more clearly explained to them) but to date it needs to be stated the “chasm” between emissions reduction per se and the motivation not only to become more aware of this and energy conservation is an iterative process.

It is unrealistic from a sociological and psychological perspective to expect instant transformation. Rather the analytical focus also needs to incorporate a “theory of change” that can explain the process of change by outlining causal linkages the program, shorter-term, intermediate and longer term. Nevertheless, the Social Specialist argues China can learn something from the experiences in other countries, especially European Union countries rather than trying to totally “reinvent-the-wheel”.

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Actions to Conserve Energy

It was decided to test whether there is a linkage between consumption-based billing and behavioral change by focusing exclusively on either heating solutions either the radiators energized by natural gas or the reverse-cycle air conditioners that can both heat and cool (also sometimes referred to as “heat pumps”) to assess whether consumers were strongly supportive, largely opposed, or conditional supported this type of billing arrangement. This is a practical issue and not one that is more existential in nature. As Table 13 below shows just over 75 percent were strongly supportive of consumption-based billing with only 14.4 percent largely opposed and 10.6 percent prepared to lend conditional support. Females at 77.9 percent were somewhat more strongly supportive than males at 72.3 percent with the strongest support by females in the Development District at 95.2 percent compared to 69.2 percent among females in Renmin Road Subdistrict, a difference of 26.0 percent. Attempts were made by the Social Specialist to assess why this is so but when males in the Development District at 90.4 percent were compared with males in Renmin Road Subdistrict at 58.5 percent or a difference of 31.9 percent it was concluded there are different socio-economic “metrics” that have to be taken into consideration.

Table 13: Link between Consumption-Based Billing and Behavioral Change in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Urban Apartment and Town Houses Strongly 69.2 58.5 72.5 69.1 75.0 71.2 95.2 90.4 Supportive Conditional 15.8 18.3 9.5 8.9 12.5 12.5 2.3 4.5 Support Largely 15.0 23.2 18.0 22.0 12.5 16.3 2.5 5.1 Opposed Switch Off Radiator or 95.6 79.2 98.0 92.5 99.5 94.1 100.0 90.2 Air Conditioner When Nobody at Home Rural Freestanding House and Other Buildings and Garden Strongly 76.1 62.0 87.5 80.2 92.1 85.5 Nil Nil Supportive Conditional 18.5 27.8 9.3 11.3 5.7 10.3 Nil Nil Support Largely 5.4 10.2 3.2 8.5 2.2 4.2 Nil Nil Opposed Switch Off Radiator or 100.0 92.6 100.0 95.8 100.0 100.0 Nil Nil Air Conditioner When Nobody at Home

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Figure 4: Project Officers in field visit in JinQiao Development District

A parallel comparison with the owners of rural freestanding houses and other buildings and garden was not possible because in the Development District because there was not this type of residential structure. Over 5 percent more of such participants at 80.5 percent were more strongly supportive than with occupiers of apartments and town houses. Some 60 percent less at 8,7 percent were largely opposed to consumption billing and 10.8 percent were prepared to lend conditional support. As with the occupiers of apartments and town houses females were more likely at 85.2 percent to be strongly supportive compared to 75.0 percent of males. The differences for females between the different residential modes of greater at 7.3 percent than for males at 2.7 percent, which suggests a greater level of effort is not only necessary for males but also females. An underlying argument of this Report and one which Social Specialists are generally in agreement on is that differences along gender lines have to be factored into to any conservation awareness program.

However, to support the argument that consumption-based billing is quite a powerful incentive to encourage consumers to switch of radiators and air-conditioners when no-one is physically on the premise is a very cogent argument. Nearly every person who participated in the survey and FGDs stated that if they did not have to pay for the units of gas or electricity, they were consuming they would simply – especially in the case of radiators – not turn them off. They do not want to return to a freezing home during the long months of winter. Some people noted this one of the few advantages they could see with coal-fired versus gas-fired heating systems but not one person stated they wished to revert to the coal- fired heating systems they had endured for all their lives to date.

Acceptable Targets for Energy Conservation

Analyzing Table 14 below 20.1 percent of participants argued it was unrealistic to set any targets and 51.7 percent local agreement to do so was necessary. By local agreement what is being meant is that owners and occupiers – normally one in the same thing because there are few rental properties in Saihan District – in one clearly delineated community must buy-in to such an agreement. Females were less likely to argue it is unrealistic to set targets than males and also argue local agreement is necessary. The outlier in this is the Development District where a very small percentage of both females and males considered it was unrealistic to set targets and this one more is likely because of different socio-economic “metrics”. This is a very good argument as to why target setting for any energy conservation awareness program that is results orientated has to be grounded in the social and economic realities of specifically targeted local communities.

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Table 14: Acceptable Targets for Energy Conservation in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Unrealistic to 20.5 35.2 18.2 30.5 20.5 31.3 1.5 3.8 Set Targets Up to 5% 45.2 35.0 48.2 32.5 51.5 40.3 25.2 24.6 during Heating Months Up to 10% 20.8 22.8 19.9 23.1 20.2 22.4 58.5 53.0 during Heating Months Up to 15% 10.5 5.5 9.5 13.4 2.5 3.5 4.3 4.8 during Heating Months Up to 20% 3.0 1.5 4.2 0.5 5.3 2.5 10.5 13.8 during Heating Months Local 65.2 59.5 63.9 57.1 68.2 56.5 25.2 18.5 Agreement Necessary

Some 37.8 percent of participants were only prepared to set a target of up to 5 percent, with a greater percentage of females at 42.5 percent agreeing to such a target than a slightly smaller percentage of males at 41.8 percent. If we include up to a 10 percent increase over two-thirds of participants at 67.9 percent would agree to targets of up to 10 percent only. Only a very small percentage agreed to targets in excess of 10 percent and the general consensus was that generally, especially with consumption- based billing households do not over-consume energy during the heating season. Elsewhere in this Report a breakdown in six hourly intervals during the day with ambient room temperatures is provided to provide a rational explanation as to the arguments utilized by participants.

Incentives to Conserve Energy

As Table 15 indicates some 65.8 percent of participants consider it unrealistic to expect any incentives to conserve energy unless they have a monetary incentive. Females were slightly more at 68.2 percent to consider them unrealistic than males at 61.8 percent. Only in the Development District were females and males likely to consider monetary incentives were not that important. This is reflected in whether agreed targeted reductions in energy usage would garner widespread support. Just over half of participants at 54.2 percent agreed they would but this is complicated by the fact that neither females or males in the Development District were in significant agreement with participants from the other districts, primarily because they argue what tariffs they pay for energy consumed constitutes a very small percentage of monthly expenditure at about 2.5 percent although for the non-poor in the survey energy expenditure was typically no more than an average of 5.8 percent of monthly expenditure. Only for the very poor without tariff subsidy would average expenditure on energy be close to 10 percent of household income which is very high.

Table 15: Incentives to Conserve Energy in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

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Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Reduce Tariffs by 65.2 59.5 63.9 57.1 68.2 56.5 25.2 18.5 Corresponding Reduction in Meeting Agreed Target Reductions Energy Utility Supplier 78.2 50.5 67.9 46.1 70.1 59.8 100.0 100.0 Introduce Differential Time-Based Tariffs Government Provide Grants 89.5 93.2 90.2 95.1 97.8 99.1 Nil Nil to Insulate Apartments and Houses Local Community 10.2 6.5 15.6 11.3 13.8 11.2 20.5 17.2 Name and Shame Users Wasting Energy Government Implement 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 0.5 12.5 10.2 Punitive Measures Against Recalcitrant Consumers Unrealistic to Expect Any 82.6 75.2 81.2 70.2 72.5 70.1 36.8 32.0 Incentives Unless Price Sensitive

Differential time-based tariffs were considered extremely important for participants living in the Development Zone, in no small part linked to the commercial activities of many participants but the issue is one of on-peak and off-peak energy use and with SCADA technology is relatively easy to introduce. During the consultations many participants were eager to understand such technical issues and HCPC made available some of its technical experts that was greatly appreciated by participants. In fact, as an aside HCPC is trying its very best to be consumer orientated and based on cursory observations the Social Specialist witnessed this outreach approach in action. HCPC also understands that it must target women and be sensitive to the requirements of women and it discussed differential time-based tariffs with as many women as possible. Feedback the Social Specialist received clearly indicates that as a result of the Project women have more technical knowledge about heating system plants and how they operate.

The above table illustrates that participants are very interested in the government providing grants to better insulate their living spaces. Some 92.5 percent of participants were very interested in such a grant or grants, with nearly all women at 98.2 percent compared to 95.8 percent of men. But in the Development District they are not interested in government grants not simply because they do argue they do not need them and do not wish to beholden to the government but more importantly they do not think the government will provide such grants although they think to the very poor the government either does

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already or could do without too much financial pressure. This is a very interesting and important issue in the context of any sustainable energy conservation awareness program. It has been demonstrated that appropriately insulated living spaces contribute significantly to energy conservation.

There is very little support to name and shame consumers who might not abide with any reduction in energy consumption agreed upon by the local community which begs the question whether group or community pressure can be successfully applied. In a similar fashion even, fewer participants agree with government sanctions against recalcitrant consumers. The only type of recalcitrant consumer FGD participants considered should be sanctioned are those who refuse their monthly or seasonal energy bills. Participants differentiate between, for instance, people who ignore or try to use laws and edicts for their own advantage at the expense of the rest of the community: persistent over-use of energy supplied by energy utilities is not considered in the same league. The “bottom line” is that people want to be comfortable and warm when it is very cold and this is a basic human need irrespective as to what type of heating system is used.

Targets of Energy Conservation Awareness

Who should be targeted as part of the Energy Conservation Awareness Program is an important activity for this Report? Table 16 below provides a very good picture as to who should be targeted. The overwhelming majority at 91.9 percent stated that everyone should be targeted irrespective of their age, gender or status because conservation awareness is not possible unless everyone is targeted. Females at 94.8 percent were somewhat more likely than males at 89.0 percent to support this approach but as the table also demonstrates there are some differences as to who should facilitate stakeholder engagement. However, 78.2 percent believe all approaches identified in Table 16 should be facilitated although once more females at 82.1 percent compared to males at 74.3 percent argued social inclusiveness is essential for conservation awareness. But whether this reflects a greater commitment to social inclusiveness in the broader societal context by females the Social Specialist is reluctant to state unequivocally that this is so. The most pleasing aspect of responses by all participants is less than 2.9 percent considered such a program to be futile (to read also “boring”) with females at 1.7 percent compared to males at 4.0 percent 2.3 times, albeit involving small numbers less likely to consider this so.

Table 16: Who Should Be Targeted to Conserve Energy in Saihan District (N=675): (Percentage)

Renmin Road Other District Development Subdistrict Subdistricts Townships District Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Everyone Without 95.6 82.0 90.2 88.7 93.5 89.0 100.0 96.5 Exception from the Cradle to the Grave Whether Big or Small Consumers Those in Individual 12.9 45.3 15.8 55.2 18.1 60.5 1.5 2.0 Households Most Likely to Consume More Energy

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Younger People in 65.0 50.5 59.0 46.5 63.1 59.2 75.1 69.5 Education Because They Are More Amendable to Change Influencers on Social Media 45.1 25.1 38.5 19.0 27.1 29.0 75.0 54.1 Platforms Because They Have Good Communication Skills Employees of Energy Utilities 28.6 15.6 32.9 21.3 38.2 22.0 12.1 Nil Having Regular Contact with Consumers Local Officials to Demonstrate the 65.2 69.0 67.7 70.1 58.5 63.0 43.2 38.5 Government is Serious About Energy Conservation All of the Above to 84.2 64.9 79.1 70.0 75.4 77.2 89.7 85.1 Ensure Socially Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement It is Useless to Target any Individuals or 1.5 6.3 2.8 8.5 2.1 1.5 0.5 Nil Groups because Such Programs Likely to be “Boring”.

Figure 5: To conduct the energy consume survey at community and factory site

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A minority of 26.3 percent stated those likely to consume the most energy do really need to be targeted because it is necessary to raise their awareness of the extant issues. Males at 40.7 percent compared to females at 12.8 percent, which is a significant difference, were more likely to use this argument. Some females in FGDs argued of course males would be more likely to use support such an approach because they spend more time outside the household than females and it is during this time that males are a “party” to higher energy use especially when pursuing leisure activities after work and late into the evening than most females. In fact, these same females argued that the excessive consumption of energy has a gender dimension that has to be factored into any awareness program and this Report as the documentation in the original Project report also implies.

Some 60.9 percent of participants, including younger people between 13 and 18 years of age, argued younger people have to be specifically targeted for a number of reasons. One of the most stated reasons is that younger people tend to consume more energy than older people – the Social Specialist cannot find empirical evidence to support this claim – because of their lifestyles including staying up later than older people and more avid viewers of television, users of karaoke and the internet. It was also argued that younger people are the adults of the future and in the schools and other educational establishments there is now much greater awareness of environmental issues among teaching staff and this is also reflected in emerging curriculums and course content. Once more 65.5 percent of females compared to 56.4 percent of males considered it important to target younger people. However, it is argued in this Report that energy awareness begins at the pre-school level not a junior, middle, or senior school level and in subsequent time spent on the Project in Hohhot the Social Specialist in conjunction Education Bureau at the city and district level will discuss how such a program can be developed for preschoolers.

Influencers on social media platforms (WeChat being the most popular) are also considered relatively important. Some 39.1 percent of participants (although 64.5 percent in the Development District) were of this opinion. Females at 45.4 percent nearly 15 percentage points more than males at 31.8 percent were of this opinion. With the proliferation of social media and the acquisition of smart phones (both I-Phone and Android) by every household that participants were from it is argued here that even before the end of this Project in 2021 there is likely to be even far greater use of social media platforms in the Project districts reflecting the growing popularity of such platforms. Hence, the Social Specialist will determine in conjunction with stakeholders how to leverage this development to render the awareness program more effective.

Just over one-fifth (21.3%) considered employees of public energy utilities need not only to be more aware but also share their awareness with consumers. Females at 24.9 percent were more likely to consider this important than males at 14.7 percent. This can be partly explained by the fact that females are more likely to have contact with such employees than males although in the context of this specific Project simple measures such as turning off heating when leaving the apartment or house or turning down the temperature when retiring for the evening are “commonsense” measures that really do not need any real level of awareness and this was pointed out by HCPC officials. However, advice on how to more effectively insulate the apartment or house and the savings thereof is what some FGD participants were very interested in. The Social Specialist found that HCPC employees she interviewed were able and willing to proffer energy saving measures that even she found very useful such as maintaining and using a thermometer to monitor room temperature because there is an ambient difference between the radiator thermostat and standalone thermometers.

While 59.4 percent of participants argued local officials also need to be aware and relatively well informed with the design, implementation, and outcome of energy awareness programs it appears that not all of these officials rely on a real results-based approach to quantify levels of energy conservation. Such officials can describe the theoretical antecedents of how it is necessary to develop greater levels of conservation awareness and they have a good knowledge of China’s official energy policies and

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strategies but they do not necessarily bridge the gap between what they know and what consumers should or need to know. Males at 60.0 percent were marginally more likely to consider these local officials have an important role to play compared to 58.6 percent of females. During subsequent monitoring occasions the Social Specialist will also target local officials at the district level.

LABOR RETRENCHMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT PLAN

Introduction: Once the project is operational, 50 existing inefficient and polluting small coal-fired boiler plants in the Jinqiao heating zone will be decommissioned by the Hohhot Municipal Government’s Public Utilities Bureau. The boiler houses were operated by 141 workers including 132 seasonal workers and 9 permanent staff. The closure of boiler houses would affect 132 seasonal workers, whereas nine permanent staff would be transferred to other positions in their respective companies or institutions. The Labor Retrenchment and Reemployment Plan (LRRP) was prepared to safeguard the rights of 132 affected seasonal workers in 29 boiler houses.

Monitoring and Evaluation: HCHC and HCDIO are required to report the status of the labor retrenchment and reemployment to ADB through annual social reports.

Action Plan-Legal Framework: Skills training and reemployment opportunities to the affected workers were provided in accordance with the Labor Contract Law of the People’s Republic of China, enacted on 1 January 2008.However, under this law only permanent employees with formal contracts that are employed on a full-time basis not part-time or seasonal basis Articles 42 (Sections (i) to (vi) if females and all sections with the exception (iv) that applies only to pregnant females) and 47 are not applicable to the 132 affected seasonal workers. Article 68 has provisions for part-time employees but it appears that none of these affected seasonal workers were covered under this Law but only the 9-permanent staff. Nevertheless, with the assistance of HCHC and the Saihan District Labor and Employment Bureau the Social Specialist was able track and trace 132 seasonal workers to assess whether they received any benefits under this Law but more importantly from training and reemployment to compensate for the loss of seasonal employment. Included in this sample should be any seasonal worker that has since retired.

The Social Specialist has undertaken a quantitative assessment to determine if these seasonal workers improved their living standards (the ideal scenario) or existing living standards have been maintained (acceptable but not especially developmental) or their living standards have declined (unacceptable). It was found that 67 (50.75%) of these affected seasonal workers were able to increase their income from non-land-based income generation activities by an average of 17.5% from CNY24,565 prior to retrenchment to CNY28,863 directly linked to skills training provided by the Project, 42 (31.81%) found they were no worse off as a result of being retrenched. Whereas only 23 of the proposed 50 permanent positions created as part of the Project were taken up by affected workers. Their incomes increased on average by 10%. Generally, there were no complaints made by any of the 132 affected seasonal workers, which is a very positive outcome for all these affected seasonal workers and also demonstrates that during project design the skills training that were afforded reflected a good understanding of what would be required.

With the 9 permanent employees that the Labor Contract Law was assessed to determine whether all legal obligations were discharged. On reviewing the new contracts offered these employees it was found that all legal obligations were discharged. Indeed, all nine employees stated they satisfied with their new contracts because several had been employed prior to the 2008 Law and their new contracts were more equitable and transparent than the original contracts they were contracted under originally. However, incomes did not increase significantly and all 9 permanent employees apart from noting greater equity and transparency with their new contracts argued that other substantial improvements in living standards

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such as cleaner and more efficient heating arrangements in their apartments were a very positive outcome of this Project, which is what all or most other beneficiaries have argued anyway. Anyone familiar with Hohhot’s long winters will understand this clearly.

Training and reemployment of seasonal workers. Following the procedures and schedule outlined in the actual plan, the HCHC, through the owners of boiler houses, did inform the affected workers of the timing of closure of boiler houses before the end of the heating season (April). Since the affected workers are hired on seasonal contractual basis by each owner of boiler houses, HCHC was not obliged to retain them and provide employment assistance according to the Law it decided at the time of project preparation it would provide some limited assistance. This included if these seasonal workers would like to work at the heat source plant under the project on temporary basis, they would be eligible to participate in the skills training for potential new positions offered by HCHC, which could offer up to 50 positions to the affected workers. Those who completed the training will be hired on temporary basis during the heating season. Those who intended to work in other sectors could also participate in employment skills training organized by the Saihan District Labor and Employment Bureau (DLEB), and HCHC would actively coordinate with the bureau to extend such training to affected workers.

According to the re-employment and training schedule for affected workers voluntary skills training for either non-farm employment offered by the DLEB or heat source plant operation team by HCHC took place over 12 months from the middle of 2014 until the middle of 2015. For the latter trainees (the 50 offered temporary employment contracts) the Plan envisaged affected workers to be offered a temporary employment contract in September of each year thereafter but as explained above only 23 chose this option.

The first issue is for those 109 seasonal workers who chose to be trained in non-farm-based skills what skills were they trained in and did they consider these new skills enabled them to easily secure alternative seasonal employment at the same income or higher monthly income than when they were working for the small boiler house operators. The Social Specialist with the assistance of the DLEB interviewed a random sample of these seasonal workers and assessed the shorter and medium outcomes of the labor transition processes for them.

Some of the comments made by those interviewed include the following:

“I was very worried that loss of seasonal employment would create hardship for my family but in reality, I was pleasantly surprised that HCHC and DLEB did their very best to ensure that I received training that I thought would be useful (indeed DLEB advised me what it thought would be a good choice for myself: I chose to have very basic mechanical training) and both HCHC and DLEB helped me secure employment with the Ruitian Machinery Industry Company. DLEB even followed up to make sure I was happy with my new job. I am not only happy with this job because it is more interesting than working as a seasonal worker in the boiler house, I worked in but have a higher income and my family will be healthier with heating of our apartment provided by gas rather than coal”.

“I had thought of taking up the option to be employed by the HCHC because there were 50 positions that were made available but I decided it would be better to opt for training offered by the DLEB although I even asked HCHC what would be the best course of action for me. Because of my interest in light machinery and had recently purchased a four-wheeled tractor I wanted to be trained in the use of light machinery for agricultural purposes. On completion of my training, I found temporary seasonal employment with the Hohhot Light Machinery Industry Company and they were so happy with me they offered me a permanent contract. This would not have

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occurred without being made redundant by the project”.

“Approaching retirement age, I had to decide whether I would participate in a DLEB sponsored program because I considered myself too old to be employed by HCHC. But I have an interest in electronics although I did not consider myself competent in this field but HCHC and DLEB managed to convince an electronic material company (I don’t want to give its name to offer me an annual contract although I was told I could not take time off to attend my small farm. However, I decided to take a chance and I find my regular monthly income is very good. Thus, I am full of praise for the assistance rendered me by this Project: something that I did not think would happen in my life.

Figure 6: The group interview on the re-employment and training schedule for affected workers

The lessons that can be learned here can be used by DLEBs throughout China and the ADB to assess whether cleaner and greener energy solutions can also have a more positive impact on affected seasonal workers livelihoods. It can be argued thus far the Project is able to demonstrate being cleaner and greener does not mean workers and their families will be poorer as a result: quite the contrary and these augers well for China’s overall commitment to cleaner and greener energy. There are synergistic connections between being clean and green and sustainable livelihoods. It is important to challenge arguments that being clean and green disadvantages many people, especially poorer people but it should also be noted that such a “narrative” does not simply exist in China but in almost all societies although in energy conscious EU countries has been largely discarded.

The other extant issue relates to the 23 seasonal workers who chose to be retrained to work on a seasonal basis in the project financed facility. The most useful assessment has been to determine whether the Law, specifically Section 68 has been applied to protect their rights and in each year since 2015 they have been offered and accepted temporary employment contracts in September of each subsequent year. From a qualitative perspective it has been useful to also assess whether these all- seasonal workers considered that the training led to upskilling of their current skill base and resulted in higher levels of renumeration. As noted above in both instances the answer is in the affirmative.

Training Topics: Training topics for the 23 seasonal workers were included: (i) pipe maintenance; (ii) gas and electric boiler operation; (iii) laboratory technical work; (iv) machine maintenance; (v) electric maintenance; (vi) cybernation techniques; and (vii) heating relay station equipment maintenance. These skills were not required to operate the old boilers that were decommissioned everywhere. All of these

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skills were t useful and such training could enable participants to leverage such skills in related industries. Also, from a gender perspective it will be useful to identify whether if any of the 23 seasonal works initially trained eventually leave the temporary employment of the HCHC and if female seasonal workers can enter this field or if not.

Some unstructured and ad hoc conversations with younger women pointed out there are some gendered biases towards women participating in this type of employment although neither HCHC or the SLEB argue this should not be a barrier and if it is it should be removed. HCHC states it welcome any move by the ADB to promote the employment of women in these new gas-fired facilities should women have such aspirations. The hypothesis is this: women if trained can work in such facilities just as easily as men and the Social Specialist is recommending that HCHC facilitate the enabling conditions for this to occur.

It is also necessary to document what other non-farming training courses were offered and whether they were driven or simply supplied by the DLEB based on what it was able to offer given resources available (was CNY1,000 per trainee too low?) or it was assessed that the affected seasonal workers did not know or understand what courses would be vocationally useful. Via a focus group discussion, the Social Specialist facilitated a discussion that involved DLEB and some of the affected seasonal workers to assess if there were and still are competing visions of what is practical and possible. Here the argument was informed by the maxim that without people desirous of seeking to be trained having their choices taken into consideration supply-based training is considerably less effective than demand-driven training outcomes. The initial assessment is that there were elements of both demand and supply driven training outcomes but the real substantive issue is that in this Project all 109 affected seasonal workers were satisfied with the outcome. This can in reality be linked to the fact that the outcomes were positive.

Participation and Consultation: Since 2011, as part of the preparation of the feasibility study, owners of all boiler houses were informed by the Hohhot Municipal Government of the likely construction schedule of new heat source plant and the timing of boiler house closure. During field survey under the project preparatory technical assistance in October 2013, workers of 12 boiler houses were interviewed and consulted regarding the (i) objective and scope of the impact of the project, (ii) schedule of closure of boiler houses, (iii) working positions to be offered, (iv) training needs, training arrangements and schedule, (v) income and welfare, (vi) working environment and conditions, and (vii) contents of labor agreement. HCHC stated it would organize further meetings with the affected workers during the project implementation. The records of these consultations were analyzed and HMC fully documented these consultations and made them available in the public domain.

Complaint and Appeal: Complaints regarding reemployment arrangements, training, salary and benefits, should be directed to HCHC according to the PAM. It was stated that HCHC will record and contact the related institutions or companies as soon as possible to resolve issues. If the issues are not resolved, HCHC would request help from Saihan District Labor and Employment Bureau. If HCHC and the local authority still could not resolve the issues, the affected workers would have the right to file the case in the local court. The Social Specialist found no complaints were made but notes HCHC has argued it will examine any complaints that may be filed in future and assess whether they can be resolved informally – the preferred option - or at the district level or whether court action might be necessary – the least preferred option - and what would be the outcome of the latter. However, the Social Specialist is of the opinion that HCHC has embodied a very responsible approach to the implementation of the Project and has dealt with the LREP both transparently and as equitably as possible. The Social Specialist argues that similar projects in China can learn from this experience. Indeed, the ADB can use this positive outcome when discussing projects of a similar nature or any project that impacts upon possibly vulnerable waged and salaried workers in other member countries.

Conclusion and Recommendations

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First and foremost, this report identifies what monitoring should or could have been done and what the evaluation of the Labor Retrenchment and Re-Employment Plan should look like. That was the initial major activity of concern to the Social Specialist because it has to focus on how all the 132 seasonal workers fared as the 59 small boilers that had been heating residential homes in the Project area were decommissioned and the new project where centralized gas facilities were commissioned. While in the scheme of things possible negative impacts on just 132 seasonal workers appears to be relatively minor but both the GoC and ADB take their responsibilities very seriously in this matter. The Report has established that these retrenched workers fared as very well for the most part based on interviews that the Social Specialist undertook in September 2018.

The evaluation of this Plan established that all of these 132 seasonal workers are materially better off as a result of this Plan because of upskilling and opportunities to seek higher incomes elsewhere. It was hypothesized here that they were likely to be somewhat better off and the Social Specialist developed the survey instruments to ensure this quantification was possible. However, any social impact analysis also needs to take a more holistic view and assess whether the project also started to contribute to an improvement not just in the physical health of these workers and their families but also their social relationships. The latter is impossible in the context of this project but it straightforward to assess improvements in physical health. It is truism but gas-fired energy is cleaner and greener than coal-fired energy as any city is Northern or Western China will attest to during the long winter months. The Social Specialist was not surprised with the results of the survey.

What this Report can set the scene for is that during subsequent field trips in 2019 it would be very useful to analyze based on the empirical findings whether a Project such as this can provide lessons for other projects of a similar nature in China. The energy policies China has been successfully pursuing to improve the quality of its hitherto coal-dependent heating systems in its cities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions can assess whether being cleaner and greener results in the loss of paid employment of affected workers and household income from the households of which they are members. The empirical evidence presented in this Report indicates quite clearly that such workers are materially better off. Most of these 132 seasonal workers relied on land-based rural incomes during the 4-5 months they were in agricultural cropping, livestock rearing, and horticultural activities. But a key question was to ask whether some of many of these affected seasonal workers were able to generate higher household incomes as result of the Project? The question can be answered in the affirmative.

As the Social Specialist has been able to answer that and other questions in the affirmative as a result of the initial analysis of impacts, she argues by 2021 the field-based investigations will further add to the argument that cleaner and greener energy solutions are cost effective: they not only facilitate the enabling environment for greater economic development but also social development. Thus, municipal, district and prefectural governments throughout China can learn from this project that the social and economic benefits outweigh the costs. For the environmental benefits there can be no dispute. Retrenched seasonal rural workers do not ipso facto descend into poverty.

In conjunction with assessing the LRRP the Social Specialist has been tasked as noted in the introduction with preparing an Appropriate Energy Conservation Awareness Program (AECAP) and this has been developed within the context of “efficiency” (double/triple glazing, insulated walls and ceilings to name a few efficiency measures that could be applied) and “curtailment” (reduction in use of energy based on some form of pro-environment behavior). This has been investigated in the context of goal setting, information, workshops, mass media campaigns, home audits and modeling. It has been argued by the Social Specialist that “one shoe does not fit all” energy conservation programs and through a series of small pilot programs involving a range of stakeholders (to also include school and universities and of course households) it should be possible to develop a moderately effective program. However, it is

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unlikely if there is not a commitment of an iterative nature then such an awareness program is unlikely to be sustainable.

In this report the stage has been set to assess what are the consequences of such a program based on different types of feedback.

It would seem that continuous feedback is likely to be the most effective in that whatever goals are agreed upon participants in such a program, including for instance younger people in the future, the issue of what type of feedback would possibly be sustainable is a vexed issue. Daily feedback, especially now with much greater levels of digital sophistication then when this Project was first designed are likely to be the most effective followed by weekly and then monthly. How this may well work is unknown at this stage and will constitute a learning experience for all stakeholders in the project area including the Social Specialist because she has no particular expertise in this field of digital feedback. Undertaking a comparative analysis of the efficacy of different types of feedback should not only influence the evaluation of this Project but other projects of a similar nature.

The major hypothesis is that financial incentives are the most likely to facilitate the enabling environment whereby an energy conservation awareness program can be effectively energized. There are different groups on a generational basis that may respond different, for instance middle and senior school students or university level students with a greater awareness in and understanding of the “science” of environmentalism than hitherto less well-educated persons in the local community or older members of the community who have never been “schooled” in the principles of sustainable environmental development. A carefully crafted quiz that can be used in either middle or senior schools has been prepared and a focused interview for university students. The Social Specialist is seeking to determine whether there are any significant differences based on gender, education, and employment to demonstrate that any program will need to be influenced by a nuanced approach to conservation awareness. With the now widespread use of digital social platforms the landscape for the generation and dissemination of knowledge-based awareness is much greater than even a decade ago and this will be illustrated in the Report that will be generated as a result of the planned input in Hohhot.

In conclusion the Social Specialist will seek to make recommendations that are based on the perceptions of all stakeholders and ascertain whether there is a consensus that can be reached in relation to a number of important issues. The retrenchment and re-deployment of workers affected by the Project does not in all probability require further investigation. The Program has been assessed as very satisfactory. The energy conservation awareness program has been designed bases on lessons learned from other experiences, notably EU countries although it is not being argued here that the Project or indeed China should emulate every aspect of such programs but it can learn valuable lessons from these programs. It is necessary to argue that the Project developers cannot be expected to initiate a fully-fledged energy conservation program that include other forms of energy. However, it must be noted and acknowledged that the Project has or will continue to provide substantially improved environmental health outcomes for all its beneficiaries. This includes low-income women and female students that will specifically targeted in the Project. Based on the surveys and the FGD the Project is targeting such groups: low-income women via the subsidization of heating costs and female students through both improved living conditions during the heating season and also via the energy conservation awareness program. This alone should be recognized but if it can also empirically demonstrate how such targeting can contribute to a greater level of environmental awareness that is also very important. The initial time spent in Project-impacted areas strongly suggests this is a very distinct probability.

Appendix 1

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Approaches to an Appropriate Energy Conservation Awareness Program For the Project Introduction The Social Specialist is presenting a review of various programs that have been initiated in EU member countries over the past decade. She is not arguing the Project should simply replicate the programs but rather where there are synergies rather than reinventing the wheel it should consider what is useful and appropriate in the Chinese cultural context and discard approaches that are less than useful or culturally appropriate. However, it needs to be stated that while energy conservation awareness programs need to be culturally specific it also needs to be recognized that energy conservation is neither wholly technical or wholly social but rather an amalgam of both the technical and social. A. The Role of New Media in Promoting Behavior Change; Beth Karlin, University of Southern California The work being performed at the Transformational Media Lab is investigating on how media can be used to transform individuals, communities and systems. Some starting points can be withdrawn: 1) Technology and new media are changing how we interact with our natural, built, and social worlds; 2) There are potential opportunities to leverage these changes for pro-social / pro-environmental benefit; 3) A psychological approach provides a theoretical base and empirical methods to understand this potential.

On how to understand the intrinsic messages to be taken on how media (and especially new types of media) can influence individuals in their behaviors, three thought need to be considered: - There’s always a story: In the aspect that there is always a context associated to an expected action and the behavior will depend of the framing of this expected action. For the same expected action, the point where an individual is coming from and the different perspective and different value it gives to a certain product or service. - It’s not a one-way street: in the aspect that a consumer is one of many characters. Is a costumer, a citizen, a member of a community, a prosumer, a producer and an active participant in society. The change of paradigm is that a media agent instead of Showing a story in the way of “I tell a story and you listen to it” is now Sharing a story in the way of “We create a story together” with the consumer. More than ever, people belong to a participatory culture. - Ask the right questions: In order to achieve the expected results, there is a need for investigating what are the drivers that engage individuals to save energy for example, as is the case of energy feedback. A meta-study was made in order to realize the effects of feedback on energy conservation. For this, different parameters were analyzed in the different studies: Study Population (Who?), Study duration (How long?), Frequency of feedback (How often?), Feedback Medium (What type?), Disaggregation (What level) and comparison (What message?). For a feedback system to be effective, some parameters are seen as crucial: - Who? Market penetration of Energy feedback systems is between 1 to 10%, being situated in the innovators and early adopters in the Rogers Innovation Curve

- What type? Different types of feedback are possible. Indirect and Direct feedback with different type of interaction between the user and utility

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- What amount? The amount of energy consumed and the way of it being presented to costumers was also analyzed. A cognitive approach proved to be more effective when presenting results - What message? The message being transmitted has to be clear in a way that the costumer can read it easily and in an engaging way. Attention on the message to be delivered is very important and no further messages should be delivered at the same time. For example, in a non-smoking campaign, an image of a cigarette butt in the ground, besides giving the message for non-smoking may also be giving a littering message. Simplicity and up- to-the point in the message is key.

Between the design of an information campaign and the expected energy savings arising from such campaign, there is no simple path. In order for an information campaign to be effective consideration should be given to the user experience, changes in knowledge and attitudes decurrently from the gaining of this knowledge, leading to a behavioral change and ultimately to the energy savings. This is only possible if a knowledge of who is the object of the campaign, while getting a previous context of the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of the subjects.

Ultimately, it could be concluded that simplicity in the way the information is given in information campaigns is key in order to get the message through. New media can have an important role in the transmission of this message.

B. Effectiveness of programs aimed at household energy conservation, Francoise Bartiaux, UCL Belgium̧ The work being developed in terms of understanding the effectiveness of programs aimed at household energy conservation focuses on questioning the rational-actor paradigm, show relevant sociological, anthropological and psychological factors and then propose alternatives.

The approach was to base the research in reviews in sociology, psychology and economics. While it would seem natural that having a general knowledge on climate change and energy related daily practices could lead to energy savings, this is not necessarily the case. The importance of social norms on comfort, convenience and cleanliness is also to be considered.

A relevant finding with 250 in-depth interviews was that “one can ring alarm bells as much as one want, only those who want to hear it will hear it”, in the way that there is a limit for the information effectiveness in the way of reaching to the final subject.

The effectiveness of sensitization campaigns directed to children have shown to be effective. Children transfer energy saving measures and practices at home if parents recognize and develop a strong child’s agentive power, if at home there are some energy saving practices and messages, if the other agents of socialization (school, TV, internet) provide the children with environmental education and if parents have a high participation in this subjects with their children. This type of cooperation between different socialization agents would relieve children from doing often alone this coordination between their parents, their school and the media.

An evaluation on the implementation of measures identifies in Energy Assessment Procedures in buildings has shown that even after these audits, information and advice per se even if can lead to thoughts may not necessarily lead to an immediate change and implement the identified measures. So, why that with a customized knowledge from these audits there is little action. Some of the answers may be that the home owners may still be in the need of discursive consciousness, need of social support, need of consistent information, and an enhanced self-esteem.

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Other socio-anthropological factors of reluctance for change may be the fear of losing the beliefs and commitment in a consumption society, a fear of a social devaluation of subjectivity, fear of being isolated and disconnected. Some psychological-based alternatives for overcoming the above-mentioned barriers can be the use of social networks, use the power of narratives, develop and use new indicators for societal progress.

The central role given to information as a main policy tool should be questioned. Neither general nor customized knowledge brings about environmentally friendlier action. Other policy tools should be looked into as in general, policies for sustainable energy consumption provide: Discursive consciousness (via perceived obligation, social support and social legitimacy) may bring relief from making individual choices that would be conflicting with social normalcy.

C. Harnessing behavior to drive energy efficiency, Giulia Gioffreda, Opower Behavioral energy efficiency programs are built on a single powerful idea: that providing people with better information about their energy use motivates them to use less. It is a premise pioneered by social science and proven by years of rigorous testing. When utility customers start receiving proactive, personalized insights into reducing their energy waste, they pay attention and start changing their behavior. That, in turn, transforms them into a clean energy resource. Engaged utility customers use less electricity than their peers, generate fewer carbon emissions, and ease demand on the grid. They also save money on their bills and think more highly of their energy providers.

There are five principles that are always followed at Opower when helping utilities to improve their communication with consumers: 1. Design for how people actually behave 2. Assume people don’t care 3. Always lead to action 4. Aim for lasting relationships 5. Build for everyone who receives a utility bill Those 5 principles are always combined with behavioral science techniques, such as the use of neighbor comparison; social norms; loss aversion principle; reciprocity principle; setting an EE goal; use a format of communication designed for limited attention span (etc.).

Most of the times the problem is not the quantity of the content. It is the quality. Many utilities are falling back on messaging that is generic, redundant, and fails to provide much value. And all too often, their BEE programs are following suit. To capture customers’ attention and achieve long-term energy savings, utilities need to talk to their customers as individuals, sharing highly personalized content that mirrors their own experiences and preferences. Timing is also critical. A 2012 study from Accenture found that customers spend just 9 minutes a year engaging with their energy providers. It’s imperative that utilities increase the moments to engage their customers. Billing information should reach consumers at least monthly.

Behavioral energy efficiency should always be scientifically measured. A high level of measurement rigor is achieved through careful experimental design, and specifically by implementing randomized control trials. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is a specific type of scientific experiment and is the gold standard for clinical trials. In such trials, RCTs are often used to test the efficacy or effectiveness of various types of medical interventions within a patient population. RCTs may also provide an

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opportunity to gather useful information about adverse effects, such as drug reactions. RCTs have also been recognized as the gold standards to evaluate behavioral energy efficiency.

D. Saving energy in the workplace: why, and for whom? Caroline Leygue, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom With 33% of GHG emissions in the UK being emitted from shared business sector, exploring motivations to save energy at work is an important step to maximize the efficiency of campaigns. While at home, the motivation to save energy may be the costs savings or eventually an environmental concern, in the workplace employees do not pay for their energy use. So, what would be the main motivation in the workplace? Altruism towards the environment or the company? A self-oriented motivation for just personal interest of for feeling good about oneself (warm glow)?

Through a study in a university and a private company, the main motivations to save energy were the Environmental concern, the Organization’s Finances, the Warm Glow and the Organization’s image, leading to a conclusion that motivations seem to affect how people react to campaigns to reduce energy use. Also feedback from energy use displays seems to affect people’s motivations. In this case, people that are more concerned with the organization’s finances are more susceptible to this type of engagement.

In conclusion, looking at motivations is important. Saving energy at work or school is a benevolent act. However, energy saving intentions are predicted by altruistic motivations mostly. Campaigns focusing on altruism might be generally more attractive than ones focusing on warm-glow and introducing CO2 units on displays at work can be beneficial, however for some people giving information on costs as well is even better.

E. Real time feedback on electricity consumption: a case study in Italy, Massimo Tavoni, Politecnico di Milano A study was carried out on the basis of data collected by Enel Distribuzione in the Enel Info+ Isernia project under a collaboration agreement between Politecnico di Milano and Enel Distribution The distributed Distribution of ’Enel Info+’ kit contained: - Enel smart info - the device that can be plugged in every socket to collect the certified data managed by the smart meter through the power-line. - A dedicated Display - display informing users about instantaneous power, as well as daily, weekly and monthly consumptions. Also reported billing time slots (on peak, intermediate and off- peak) and (only in its latest version) instantaneous power refresh and inferred consumption habits. The program’s duration was of 2 years with a total sample of 6000 users. A sample of 2000 observations were performed considering the date of delivery and version of display, the municipality, contractual information (e.g., max power) and monthly consumption in the 3 billing time slots. Another 1000 observations sample regarded 15-minute resolution data. Besides the information collected in these observations, there were also evaluated survey questions, basically on the dwelling and household characteristics.

A cluster analysis on high frequency data was made to test whether patterns of consumption have changed, to define a certain number of load curves representing typical days. In the end, a range of 1 to 6 % of savings was found with an average of 3%. It was also found that the effect increases over time (in terms of the year that the displays have been installed and for how long the household has the display). Another finding was that the reduction on energy consumption seems to be equally distributed.

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F. How a games-centric approach to engagement creates energy savings, Paula Owen, Eco Action Games, UK Eco action games is testing a new, positive approach to environmental education, engagement and behavior change. Using the theory of gamification, as well as a ‘games centric’ approach to get messages across, through medium of traditional, well known games but with an energy saving twist. It has created the concept of ‘eco action playground’ events and explore which sectors/age groups it works better with.

The approach and target groups are taking the eco playground to schools, community groups, corporate, festivals, etc. Up to 2016 it has been presented in 40 events with a reach of approximately 5000 players. A large schools programme is being implemented with a robust evaluation framework and analysis.

The take of the company is to create energy saving versions of a number of well know traditional social games, through hosting and facilitating “eco playground” educational events using the games as a way to engage and educate attendees. In order to obtain a baseline, pre-workshop quantitative surveys are being conducted, as well a post event evaluation. After several months of the event a follow-up is made in order to assess longer-term impact and behavioral changes due to the attendance of the workshop/playground.

There are 4 pillars on the game-centric engagement. 1) Entertain: in the way that any communication tool using game centric engagement has to entertain: 2) Engage: For the technique to influence behavioral change, individuals have to engage with the process and the messaging; 3) Educate: Besides of being there for a good time, the audience playing the game needs to learn the message being transmitted; 4) Embed: To what extent the process of learning and engaging through games and play can embed behavioral change in the participants beyond the duration of the game.

Different types of projects have been launched. From the adult population, 1st year school students and secondary schools have been the target of the projects. From the post-game surveys, a great majority of the participants have enjoyed the events and the experience of learning new information about environmental actions. Over half of the surveyed stated that they have learned new and useful information and would be taking actions as a result of the learning process. On average the surveyed people have committed to adopt 3 actions learned. On the follow-up survey months after the activity, the average number of actions that responders had already adopted was 4 from a 20% response rate.

On a Manchester University research project, a pilot event was developed to test undergraduate students’ engagement with sustainability issues. The evaluation was made through pre and post event questionnaires and a follow-up survey 2 months later. Previously to the event 64% of the students felt they could do something individually to combat climate change. After the event, over 90% of the students have declared to have enjoyed the event and the games played. Over 80% felt that they learnt new information about actions to be taken. Actions like turning lights off when leaving the room/house, turning off appliances on standby or make sure that washing machines were packed were some of the measures adopted since the event, discovered in the follow-up questionnaire.

The objective of the company is now to continue developing further school projects, continue to work with the Manchester University, develop online/mobile engagement games and start developing international versions.

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G. Promoting energy-saving behavior in cities: Formal social groups as multipliers of communal energy-saving activities? Corinne Moser, ZHAW Institute of Sustainable Development, Switzerland, This project objective is to find out whether cities can use formal social groups as multipliers to promote energy saving behavior. For example, a volleyball club going to away games. Normally players would meet at their sports facility and use their private cars to go to the game. The alternative would be for the players to meet at the train station and take the train to the game with team members sharing an experience and ultimately having a spill-over to private behavior. The hypothesis of the study was to realize if activities promoted via social groups have a stronger impact on energy saving behaviors compared to activities addressing inhabitants directly.

Why tackle this subject departing with cities? Switzerland has put cities as a priority in terms of reducing energy consumption per capita and cities are key agents of change in the upcoming energy transition as role models (e.g., energy-efficient public buildings) and by promoting energy-saving behavior.

A city project on mobility had car drivers give up driver’s license for 2 weeks to try out e-bike for free and make a positive experience. After the trial phase the likelihood of people to drive less or buy an e- bike was measured over 4 in a scale of 1 to 6, concluding that intervention seems to have an impact on people’s mobility habits.

Cities and city utilities are seen as central regarding energy and energy savings. From a 525-sample collected in the cities of Winterthur, Baden and Zug, over than half of the respondents claim to trust city institutions regarding energy and energy savings.

As a part of cities, formal social groups can be seen as multipliers of communal energy saving activities, since these may pose as intermediaries between the city administration and its inhabitants. For example, a District Association promoting energy savings at homes may pose itself as information provider from a trusted source, with the possibility to exchange information and learn from each other due to the proximity. A social control and the formation of new social norms can be seen as important prerequisites for behavior change.

H. Experiences of policies for behavioral change – Concerted Action for the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, Anette Persson, CAEED Core Theme Leader – Consumer information programs, training and certification of professionals The Concerted Action for the EED is an initiative where all Member States plus Norway are present in order to exchange experiences and best practices concerning the implementation of the EED.

Some of the barriers identified during the CAEED were the lack of awareness, lack of interest, lack of money, lack of targeted messages, lack of balance between national and local actions, the fact that the pricing structure for electricity does not give incentive for savings or the difficulty for the administration to evaluate and measure the impact of such measures

Some key findings regarding information as a policy tool were that achieving a behavioral change requires deep insight into consumers. It is essential to communicate the right message – and to keep the message simple, the message must be very carefully chosen and adapted to the specific target group, there is generally a lack of interest in energy consumption in households, organizations and SMEs and that the message should try to spur curiosity rather than provoke guilt.

The key findings regarding the design of measures for behavioral change were to identify the drivers and multiple benefits of energy efficiency such as health, well-being, convenience etc., recognize the

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importance of social context and social practices, practitioners should be aware of ideas from several schools’ research, motivating, enabling and reinforcing factors are all needed, the planning phase is crucial and that a variety of tools exist to facilitate the design process.

The key findings when evaluating soft measures were that the evaluation of the effect of” soft measures” such as information campaigns and advisory services is a challenge, also other aspects than savings in kWh should be included in the evaluation, the evaluation must be an integral part of the design of a measure, evaluation is a learning process. Several EU-projects have looked into the topic of evaluation (i.e., BEHAVE, BEWAREE, Changing behavior)

In terms of the key findings regarding smart meters and consumer engagement were that the implementation of smart meters is still in an early process in most Member States, that a smart meter does not generate savings per se with additional services or tools being needed, In-home displays are a key feature in order to engage consumers, the roll out of smart meters should be accompanied by a strategy for consumer engagement and that the Distribution System Operators are strategically important for information during the roll-out of smart meters. The challenge is to choose the right message to the consumer and not focus too much on the technical details of the meters as such. Trust is important and a 100% positive attitude among consumers may not be realistic at the start of the roll- out. Also, privacy and protection of data is crucial and consumers should be aware of their rights concerning privacy.

As conclusions, the main drivers for change need to be identified, since they are more often related to convenience, safety, health, social status, environmental concern than purely economic or” saving kWh”. There should be more focus on behavioral change in SMEs, industries and organizations, in addition to households. Also, the energy sector could benefit from experiences from completely different sectors where behavior is a key aspect, such as health and road security for example.

I. Successful Behavior Campaigns in Finland, Irmeli Mikkonen, Motiva Oy, Finland Motiva, the Finnish Energy Agency considers to be communicating actively with its websites being visited more than 920,000 times, its training events and seminars had about 2360 participants, its newsletters reached over 20.000 decision-makers and its visibility in digital media grew by 127%, all this in 2014.

One of Motiva’s web interfaces is the www.eneuvonta.fi “Consumer Energy Advice” providing advice and guidance, good practices, tips and inspiration and reliable and impartial information regarding sustainable energy consumption, through a web portal and by regional advisors throughout Finland. Some other features of this platform consist on the coordination of an advisor network and the advisors’ training. Annually energy advice is given directly and at evens to nearly 40.000 consumers, with the regional advice service reaching nearly 75% of the Finnish population.

Annually, Motiva coordinates the National Energy Awareness week, in which municipalities, companies and other organizations concentrate on promoting energy efficiency voluntarily. Motiva is responsible to provide the participants with tools, materials and information and for media and stakeholder communication on a national level. For the year of 2014, 336 companies and organizations have participated.

Another initiative promoted by Motiva is the Energy Awareness week for schools, aimed at second form pupils, with half of the age group participating. Some of the activities developed during the week are daily lessons using an energy educational material package and children are perform energy agent work at home. The material is sponsored by local energy companies with the culmination of the week

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with an energy competition. About 80 energy companies are sponsoring the schools, with 25.000 pupils participating.

Finally, the behavior campaign ingredients can be narrowed into 1) Seasonal and targeted communication, where the essential groundwork needs to be done by assembling the information, facts, data, sources and expertise and 2) Involve your target group, and know what are their needs, their resources and have the capacity to speak their language.

J. Governance for Climate Protection Influencing energy-related behavior, Kerstin Schilcher, Austrian Energy Agency Klima:aktiv is the Austrian Climate Initiative from the Austrian Energy Agency and is the umbrella programme for soft measures and strengthens and complements existing initiatives. Some of the noticeable programs being developed under klima:aktiv are for example: The Austrian climate protection award “klimaschutzpreis” that rewards Austria’s best climate protection projects. With partners like the Ministry of Environment, Broadcasting and press companies, this project that has been going on since 2008, nominates 16 projects in 4 categories and is telecasted on TV. Klima: aktiv receives hundreds of applications for this initiative that reaches to 27 million viewers with 450.000 daily viewers and 1.5 million hits on the initiative website.

Topprodukte.at is a web platform developed by Klima: aktiv that provides information on energy efficient products. With 3000 products listed, in 7 categories (lighting, business, household, heating, mobility, communication and entertainment), the platform reaches 980.000 unique visitors per year. Also, there has been developed a mobile app named ecoGator that allows users to access the information of the energy efficient products.

Smergy is a campaign for young adults, tailored specifically to this tier of the population, giving information on energy efficient actions to be taken in a humorous and ironic way. The content is based on the premise that perceived benefits should be easily achieved, with credibility and socially accepted. The contents delivered in this project is as simple as possible, with a clear justification of the proposed measures with useful instructions and the setting of goals and prizes. Klima: aktiv monitors the performance of this project by sending out questionnaires, online user surveys, website and social media statistics and the Media uptake and clippings of the initiative.

K. Let's Live Warmer, Inese Bērziņa, Ministry of Economics Republic of Latvia Latvian housing stock has more than 39.000 multi-apartment buildings with of 63 % of all households live in multi-apartment buildings, and in the capital city Riga – 85 %. More than 60 % of multi-apartment buildings were built in the period from the 1960’s to 1995, when building standards were not very strict. 20 million Euro were provided by EU funding for energy efficiency in multi-apartment residential buildings, but the lack of knowledge about energy efficiency, the little experience in implementing energy efficiency projects and the lack of cooperation between involved parties, associated with the economic crisis originated in a small number of project applications. To overcome this, Latvia has launched, in 2010, an informative campaign called “Let’s Live Warmer” with more than 30 industry associations and business stakeholders signing a memorandum of cooperation. This initiative has been rolled-out in different type of mediums: - 210 seminars and conferences have been organized with more than 6700 attendees and other 2740 participants online. - Social media has been also important in the passing of the message, with twitter, Facebook, YouTube and SlideShare presentations being accessible to interested people.

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- Direct Communication was also used, with a bi-weekly newsletter being sent to 1750 clients and partners. Meetings with NGO and representatives from business and banks have been also occurring at least once a month. - Publicity with press releases, initiating articles and stories in TV and radio about energy efficiency and the cooperation with professional magazines dealing with construction and buildings. - The official site of the campaign in the website of the Ministry of Economic Affairs has had more than 3,000.000 visits - A competition named “The most energy efficient building in Latvia” has also been started. Overall, the initiative has received more than 1500 projects and has created a network and communications platform that unites competitors and partners for a common goal. Government institutions are now more accessible and open to communication through different means of communication and innovative ways on how to implement cost-free activities, enhance cooperation and attract funding from partners.

L. Promoting Home Energy Upgrades in Ireland, Fiona Smith, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) SEAI is the national energy Authority in Ireland and promotes energy efficiency and renewable Energy. Better Energy Homes is the flagship programme in delivering home energy upgrades (insulation and heating systems) that has been in place, through grant support since 2009. Since 2009 over 170,000 Irish homes have been upgraded, with an applications peak in 2011. The reduction in applications can be explained due to a captive market, the recession, disengaged contractors and the need to encourage deeper retrofits.

In 2013 a research in the Irish market has concluded that 50% of the population was aware of the grants. A particular focus was given towards people over 50 years, called “empty nesters”, that have the children out of the home and have a greater available income. In 2014 SEAI, implemented a national awareness campaign in different Media, such as in the national radios, national press, digital display ads and Google AdWords. These press and online-creative campaigns, tailored for the “empty nesters” were timed for pre-summer and pre-heating season with a two phased campaign occurring in May and August.

These multimedia campaigns had the result of slowing down the declining of the grant applications and the realization that the lack awareness was not just the issue, but also a review of the grants package to encourage deeper retrofits and a review of the wider retrofit market was in need.

Acting up on this, in 2015, the Better Energy Homes was relaunched in March with new higher grant amounts. Also, there was made an outreach to contractors who operate the scheme. A greater use of digital marketing with Google AdWords, targeting through YouTube, twitter, targeted sites and the developing of video case stories around the homeowners have been produced. The impact of these actions is already visible with grant application being 42% higher compared with 2014.

M. Energy Bus – Mobile Education and information Center for Counteracting Climate Change, Krzysztof Kuczma, KAPE The Polish National Energy Conservation Agency, Poland The Energy Bus is a Mobile information education center created to raise awareness and knowledge on energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and “clean” transport, as well as water saving and waste management, equipped with multimedia presentations, models, posters etc. There is the constant presence of two energy experts giving free advice about energy conservation and renewable

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energy sources. The target groups of the Energy Bus are Public Administration, local entrepreneurs, city residents and especially young people.

The project rolled out from 2014 to 2016 was a nationwide campaign in 16 regions, encompassing more than 200 municipalities. The project was developed by adapting a city bus in order that it could be a mobile education and information center. For this, information material for the campaign participants were prepared. A dedicated website (http://www.autobusenergetyczny.pl/) and a computer game were also developed. The way to make the message through and make people aware of the Energy Bus was through Media campaigns in the press, radio and on the internet, including social networks like Facebook.

Different types of target groups implied that different material should be developed. For the young people a drawing contest for a comic book was developed, while for civil servants and entrepreneurs, energy efficiency information workshops have been taking place. For each of the 16 regions, the campaign lasts about a month, with daily expert advice in the bus, discussion and information forums and increasing ecological awareness of people living in communities. Inside the bus, visitors can see different types of energy efficient technologies like heat recovery models, wind energy and photovoltaic panels solutions, efficient lighting, insulation or cost-effective energy management system in a school, along with informative boards.

Conclusion As presaged in the introduction the Social Specialist reiterates that was has been reviewed above is not a definitive approach to implementing an Energy Conservation Awareness Program but will be used to inform how the program has been designed for this Project. The most important generalization that can be made based on a review of different energy conservation awareness programs in the EU countries is that programs have to specifically targeted to different stakeholder groups and that way they can be more effective.

APPENDIX 2

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES AND OTHER KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS FOR PROJECT AFFECTED PERSONS

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1. Low-Carbon District Heating Project in Inner Mongolia Energy Savings Awareness Questionnaire

1.Personal Details of Person Being Interviewed

I am a ... female male My location is:

Name of County………...Township…………. Village…………….

My age is:

a) Under 20 Years

b) 21-35 Years

c) 35-50 Years

d) 50-65 Years

e) Over 65 Years

My Cultural Background is:

a) Han Chinese

b) Mongolian

c) Other (please specify)

My Highest Educational Level

a) No Schooling

b) Primary School

c) Junior Middle School

d) Senior Middle School

e) Tertiary Education

My Main Occupation is:

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a) Waged industrial, commercial or service worker

b) Salaried government official or professional person

c) Seasonal day laborer

d) Owner of Small and Medium Enterprise

e) Seasonal Agricultural Worker

f) Other Land-Based Income Generation Activities

g) Unemployed for whatever reason

h) Home Duties

i) Other (please state)

Our Household Income (CNY) Is:

a) Under 30,000 b) 30,001 – 50,000 c) 50,001 – 80,000 d) 80,001- 100,000 e) Over 100,000 f) Don’t want to say

2. Where I live in Hohhot the coal-fired boilers were dirty and inefficient and caused many respiratory problems during the winter but now being able to use gas has rid me and my households of this problem. Yes No

3. Do you think that energy saving is important to you? * Yes No

4. Have you ever had an opportunity to reduce energy use at home? * Yes No

5. If you had to monitor the use of energy at home, do you think it would help you to become more aware about the importance of energy saving? * Yes No

6. Are you aware of ways of saving energy? Tick as many as are relevant to you *

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a) I’m aware of a lot of ways of saving energy b) I’m aware of 3-4 ways of saving energy c) I’m aware of some basic ways of saving energy d) I’m not aware of any ways of saving energy

7. Do you practice energy saving techniques at home? * a.Yes b.No

If yes, so tick as many as are relevant to you * a) I use energy saving bulbs and the gas cooker instead of the microwave b) I turn off lights and other equipment before I go out of to sleep c) I use energy saving appliances d) I try to change my daily habits to save energy e) I try to encourage other members of the household to also save energy 8. What would motivate you to change your behavior to reduce the energy use? Tick as many as are relevant to you * a) Increase the cost of using gas and electricity b) Environmental reasons such as reducing Greenhouse Emission Gasses c) Negative social security score 1. d)Other reasons

9. What is your general attitude to energy saving? Tick one possibility a) Positive b) Positive and aware c) Neutral d) Negative e)Other

10. Would you be interested in participating in energy saving activities in the future? Yes No

11. Would you be interested in participating in energy awareness campaign in the future? Yes No

12. Who should coordinate such a campaign? a. All China Women’s Federation b. Hohhot City Development Investment and Operation Company c. Hohhot Chengfa Heating Company

d. Sub-Prefectural Authority

e.Other (Please Specify)

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13. Do you look for ways of saving energy outside your home, for example at school, at work, at relatives’ home, at your friends’ homes? *

a) Always b) Usually c) Sometimes d) Rarely e) Never

2. ENERGY AWARENESS SURVEY FOR SENIOR SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

1. Many energy scientists and economists believe the world is facing an energy crisis due to a variety of factors including resource depletion, health issues, environmental impacts, and international obligations to reduce CO2 emissions. Which of the following statements most reflects your perspective? (Circle one): a) Urgent: I participate in and support actions to reduce energy consumption. b) Important: I support actions to reduce energy consumption. c) Neutral: I’m not sure it’s important, I would like to know more. d) Skeptical: This issue is exaggerated; I don’t support actions to reduce energy use. e) Indifferent: It’s not something I worry about.

2. What is your general attitude toward energy conservation? (Circle one): a) Very positive – I actively save energy and believe I can make a difference b) Aware and positive – I think it is important and try to save energy when possible c) Partly aware – I take some action and occasionally pass on information to others d) Neutral – I may occasionally try to save energy when I think about it e) Indifferent – It’s not something I worry about

3. How aware are you of the environmental impact of energy use? (Circle one): a) Very – I actively follow issues and seek out opportunities to learn more b) Mostly – I regularly follow news media and sometimes investigate in more detail c) Aware – I follow current issues and know what the concerns are d) Somewhat – I am aware of the debate, but am not yet convinced e) Unaware – I am not aware of the environmental impacts

4. What is your level of awareness of energy costs? (Circle one): Unaware Somewhat Aware Mostly Very

5. What is your level of awareness of energy waste? (Circle one): Unaware Somewhat Aware Mostly Very

6. A pound of coal burned to generate a kilowatt of electricity creates how many pounds of CO2, on average? _____

7. Do you know the current cost of gas? (Circle one):

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b) Maybe: ______CNY/unit c) No a) Yes: ______CNY/unit

8. Do you know the current cost of electricity? (Circle one): a) Yes: _____CNY/kw b) Maybe: _____CNY/kw c) No

9. What is a good temperature for a refrigerator, in your opinion: ______ºF

10. What is a good temperature for a freezer, in your opinion: ______ºF

11. What is a good temperature for a water heater, in your opinion: ______ºF

12. Which type of light bulb has the lowest lifespan cost for equivalent lumens (light output)? Halogen Incandescent Compact Florescent LED

13. Which of the following electric devices are in your house?  Desktop PC  Iron  Laptop or Notebook PC  Hairdryer  DVD Player or VCR  Hair Straightener  Portable vacuum cleaner  Portable heater  TV  Microwave  Stereo  Electric oven  Cell Phone  Food processor  Cordless Phone  Mixer/blender  Washing machine  Refrigerator (with freezer)  Tumble dryer  Freezer (separate from fridge)  Dishwasher  Air conditioner  Water Heater  Toaster

14. From the list above, list which 4 electronic devices, in your opinion, are responsible for the most energy consumption in your home: a) ______b) ______c) ______d) ______

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15. How often do you leave lights on in rooms when there’s nobody in the room? Circle one: Never Occasionally Sometimes Most of the time Always

16. How often do you leave the battery charger of an electronic device plugged in once the battery is charged? Circle one: Never Occasionally Sometimes Most of the time Always

17. How often do you leave your computer on when it’s not being used? Circle one: Never Occasionally Sometimes Most of the time Always

18. How often do you keep your electronic devices on standby (i.e., DVD player, computer monitor, computer speakers)? Circle one: Never Occasionally Sometimes Most of the time Always

19. How often do you actively ask people to conserve energy? Circle one: Never Occasionally Sometimes Most of the time Always

20. How motivated are you to save energy? Circle one: Not at all Slightly Somewhat Most of the time Always

Thank You. Your Answers Have Been Most Helpful.

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Objective The student will be able to 3. Energy Awareness Quiz identify actions that contribute to the greenhouse effect. I. INTRODUCTION Curriculum Focus Science, Math, Social studies This is an activity to determine students’ awareness of critical energy Materials issues. The Student Activity Sheets can provide basic information about Student Activity Sheet, students’ backgrounds in energy and can be used to highlight the severity Energy Awareness Quiz of the greenhouse effect. Student Activity Sheet, How Much CO2 Do You Spew? Calculators II. PROCEDURE Key Terms Carbon dioxide (CO2) 1. Distribute the Energy Awareness Quiz. Greenhouse gas (GHG) 2. Have students take the quiz and discuss the correct answers given Kyoto Protocol below. Ask them what answers they disagree with and what answers surprise them. 3. Tell students that the environmental problem that gets the most attention these days is global warming and the greenhouse effect. Ask students to list ways that everyone contributes to the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere.

4. Have students complete How Much CO2 Do You Spew? Debrief with the following questions: a. What changes, if any, would students consider making in their consumption habits after doing this activity? b. What statements can students make about our consumption and GHG production as compared with other countries? (It is much higher than most countries.) c. Which energy topics would students like to find out more about?

A. ANSWERS TO ENERGY AWARENESS QUIZ

1. All answers are correct. 2. C 3. A 4. C for China. 5. C 6. All answers are correct. 7. All answers are correct. 8. C for China 9. A, B, D

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10. All answers are correct.

STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET

1. ENERGY AWARENESS QUIZ

For each question, choose all answers that apply.

1. The amount of energy each Chinese person uses per year is equivalent to a. 13 one-kilowatt heaters operating continuously b. The amount of gasoline to drive a car 120,000 km c. 90,000 kg of coal 2. Compared to people in many developed countries, Chinese use about a. 5 times less energy b. 15 times less energy c. 50 times less energy 3. In our country, the most widely used energy resource is a. Oil b. Natural gas c. Coal d. Solar and Wind Power 4. In our country, the least abundant energy resource is a. Coal b. Natural gas c. Oil d. Solar and Wind Power 5. How many years did it take nature to make oil? a. 2,000 years b. 2 million years c. 200 million years 6. Which of the following products are produced from oil? a. Gasoline b. Plastics c. Medicines d. Pesticides

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e. Cosmetics f. Paints g. Fabrics 7. Which of the following are nonrenewable forms of energy? a. Coal b. Kerosene c. Oil d. Uranium e. Natural gas 8. What percentage of our energy comes from nonrenewable fossil fuels? a. 50 to 60% b. 70 to 80% c. More than 90% 9. Which of the following environmental problems are related to the combustion of fossil fuels? a. Smog b. Acid rain c. Nuclear radiation d. The greenhouse effect (increase in carbon dioxide levels causing the warming of the Earth’s surface) 10. Which of the following renewable sources of energy are currently being used in our country? a. Solar b. Biomass (energy from plants and animals) c. Wind energy d. Hydropower e. Geothermal energy 2. STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET

HOW MUCH CO2 DO YOU “SPEW”?

Do you ride in a car? Are you lucky enough to drive one? Do you travel by plane? Do you like watching television? Or movies? How about enjoying a hot meal?

If you’re like the vast majority of people, you enjoy these things and life wouldn't be quite the same without all of these “necessities.” Of course, you have to pay for all of this—cars aren’t cheap, and airline tickets are only cheap if someone else pays for them, right?

But how much do we really pay? Are there “hidden costs” that we seem to (rightfully or wrongfully) forget? You bet! And, this is not just a case of dollars and cents (or is that “dollars and sense?”).

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You might remember that CO2 is carbon dioxide, which puts the bubbles in your soft drink and is to plants and trees what protein is to you—a building block of food. It’s the odorless gas that has evolved to tie us into a “circle of life” with plants and other photosynthetic organisms. We breathe out CO2; plants take it in and give us oxygen, which we then inhale.

So, we need carbon dioxide to make the cycle go around—but too much and things get out of whack like a car running on three cylinders. For the last 150 years, the Industrial Revolution has been thumbing its nose at Mother Nature and now is literally choking on its own exhaust. The result is the infamous “Greenhouse Effect” and global warming.

Global warming has been a source of controversy within the scientific community for many years. After many investigations, it is now well-documented and accepted as fact. Some uncertainty remains about the role of natural variations such as cyclic changes in the sun’s brightness and sun spot activity tha may cause climate change.

Sometimes things like the greenhouse effect seem far away—the same as troubles in the oil-rich countries of the Middle East (they presently, but not always, sell us all the oil we can pay for). Just like waste dumped at sea, these problems eventually come home—proving one of Murphy’s laws, that “What goes around, comes around.” Eventually we all must pay the costs.

So how much CO2 do you contribute to the greenhouse effect? This is your “CO2 Quotient.” Here’s how to figure it out.

Your answer may shock you, but it should help you to see that lowering your CO2 quotient is necessary to your very survival. It seems with this problem, only two outcomes are possible: a big win or an even bigger loss.

For more information, visit http://solar-center.stanford.edu/sun-on-earth/glob-warm.html.

59 LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT

ADDING UP THE CO2 YOU EMIT/GENERATE

1. Figure out your share of the number of liters of gasoline that you burn riding around in cars or other motorized vehicles. To do this, figure the distance (kilometers) you traveled and divide this by the fuel economy of the vehicle. For example, if you and one other person drive 60 kilometers to school each week in a car that gets 20 km/L, then the car consumed three liters of gasoline and your share would be half of that—because two were riding in the car—or about 1.5 liters. You also can simplify this by taking an average figure for your family car or other motorized

vehicle based on kilometers traveled. Each liter contributes 2.5 kg of CO.

Number of liters of gasoline ______x 2.5 kg CO2/liter = ______kg CO2 2. Calculate the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity that you use in a year. Take the number of kilowatt-hours from an average monthly utility bill, multiply it by 12, and divide by the number of people in your family. Using one kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated in a coal-fired power

plant produces 0.9 kg of CO2. (Hydropower and nuclear generated electricity are CO2-free; your local power company can tell you how your electricity is generated.)

Avg. monthly kWh of electricity _____ x 12 / ______people in household

x 0.9 kg CO2/kWh = _____ kg CO2

3. Figure out how much natural gas you use (if any). One therm of natural gas produces about 15.5 kg of CO2. (1 therm = 1 ccf, or 100,000 Btu or 105 MJ.) Check your gas bill and again divide by the number of people in your household.

Number therms of gas______x 15.5 kg/therm = ______kg CO2

4. Flying one kilometer on an airplane produces about 0.3 kg of CO2

Number of kilometers flown______x 0.3 kg/kilometer = ______kg CO2

5. Add up 1 through 4 for your direct CO2 production. TOTAL ______kg CO2

6. Double the answer from question 5 to account for the CO2 produced indirectly through the things that you have bought and the services you have used (like going to the movies).

Total from #5 ______x 2 = ______kg CO2

Congratulations! That’s your CO2 quotient. How do you compare to the “average” Chinese who contributes 6,200 kg of CO2 to our atmosphere?

The views expressed herein are those of the consultant and do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s 7. Now for the hard part—what to do about it. It’s already been mentioned that trees love CO2. So members, Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature. how many trees would you need to plant each year to soak up your CO2 if you plant fast-growing

trees that can use 22 kg of CO2 each year?

Would it help if you plant some of those trees so that they shade your house and reduce your electricity usage by 10%? Can you think of any other ways to minimize the greenhouse effect?

60 LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT

8. For a larger point-of-view, consider that the world is currently releasing 20 billion metric tons of CO2 each year. Some experts believe that it will require slashing that figure in half to 10 billion tons to stabilize the climate. Because there are 6.5 billion people on Earth at present, each

person’s rightful share of CO2 emissions is about 1.5 metric tons (1500 kg) annually. Do you think that some countries have the right to contribute more greenhouse gases than other countries?

Why or why not?

What do you think about the Kyoto Protocol?

9. It is now commonly accepted that global warming is occurring. Debate now centers around on how much humans are influencing global climatic cycles. What biases may cause scientists to interpret the same data in different ways? Consider whom scientists work for and where their funding comes from.

The views expressed herein are those of the consultant and do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s members, Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature.

4. Low-Carbon District Heating Project in Inner Mongolia LRRP Questionnaire

61 LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT

1.Personal Details of Person Being Interviewed

I am a ... female male My location is:

Name of County………...Township…………. Village…………….

My age is

f) 21-35 Years

g) 35-50 Years

h) 50-65 Years

i) Over 65 Years

My Cultural Background is:

d) Han Chinese

e) Mongolian

f) Other (please specify)

My Highest Educational Level

f) No Schooling

g) Primary School

h) Junior Middle School

i) Senior Middle School

j) Tertiary Education

My Main Occupation Now Is:

j) Waged industrial, commercial or service worker The views expressed herein are those of the consultant and do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s members,k) Salaried Board ofgovernment Directors, Management, official or professional or staff, and person may be preliminary in nature.

l) Seasonal day laborer

m) Owner of Small and Medium Enterprise

n) Seasonal Agricultural Worker

62 LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT

o) Other Land-Based Income Generation Activities

p) Unemployed for whatever reason

q) Home Duties

r) Other (please state)

Our Household Income (RMB) Is:

g) Under 30,000 h) 30,001 – 50,000 i) 50,001 – 80,000 j) 80,001- 100,000 k) Over 100,000 l) Don’t want to say

2. Were you fully informed by the Project that a Labor Retrenchment and Re-Employment Plan was prepared and as a Seasonal Worker for one of the Small Boiler Operations you could be offered some benefits? Who presented this Plan to you and was it present orally or in writing or a combination of both? Please describe what your reaction was if you can remember?

Response:

3. Were you able to take advantage of the Plan to either be trained in a non-rural alternative skills development program or a series of such programs by the SDLEB or another DLEB? What is your opinion now of the usefulness of that program (such as acquiring new skills or improved pathway to higher hourly or monthly wages)? Did you have to forego income or pay any fees to participate in this program and if necessary, to pay fees or other informal payments to whom did you have to make such payments?

Response:

4. Are you able to share with us how training in these new skills contributed (if it did) to an improvement in your personal/household income and whether acquiring these skills enable youThe viewsto more expressed easily herein find arealternative those of the employment consultant and as do a notseasonal necessarily hourly represent worker those or of a ADB’s monthly salariedmembers, worker? Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature.

Response:

63 LOW-CARBON DISTRICT HEATING PROJECT IN HOHHOT SOCIAL ANNUAL REPORT

5. Did the District Labor Employment Bureau simply offer you a menu of skill development courses or did it ask your opinion as to what skills you were interested in developing? Had you been offered a choice what skills development courses would you have chosen and why? Or did you have no idea what the labor market required and were willing to accept what the DLEB had to offer?

Response:

6. Why did you not choose to take up the offer of HCHC to employ at least up to 50 seasonal workers in the skills necessary to operate equipment in the new energy generating facilities constructed as part of the Project? Was this because you did not think you could acquire such skills and would not be offered temporary seasonal contracts or the technical training was of no use outside this Project or there were likely to be more opportunities with a broader skill base?

Response

7. In your opinion what is more advantageous, to be offered a full year rollover employment contract or a temporary seasonal employment contract to be negotiated on a seasonal basis? Could you please provide what you see as advantages and disadvantages for both types of employment? And are you aware of the relevant sections in China’s 2008 Labor Contract Law and how it applies to you?

Response

8. The project would like to know that notwithstanding the changes you have had to experience because of your transitioning out of seasonal employment in the boiler house that you worked in do you think overall the project has had a positive impact on the life of yourself, your household and the community? For instance, you might pay attention to the greater levels of clean heating within your apartment or house, clearer air in and around the local community during the winter months, and less upper respiratory ailments among household members (e.g., just a simple reduction in coughing and chest pains)?

Response

Thank You. Your Responses Have Been Most Helpful and Will Assist in Projects Elsewhere The views expressed hereinin Hohhot,are those Innerof the Mongolia,consultant and and do China not necessarily as a Whole. represent those of ADB’s members, Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature.

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