Fast-growing emerging markets are making energy efficiency a high priority. Leading the way: China.

SHOOT: Good to see China making a few logical choices; the USA and SA could learn from these. Energy efficiency isn't a game, or a choice, it's an imperative.

clipped from online.wsj.com When it comes to boosting efficiency, China has been among the most active of its emerging-market peers and is, arguably, the most important: The country is the world's second-biggest oil consumer after the U.S., and its consumption is expected to grow by at least 3% annually over the next four years. China is also the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. China is also looking to home appliances for energy savings. This year, the government announced plans to subsidize purchases of energy-efficient air conditioners—on the order of $44 to $125 per unit, depending on the buyer's financial needs. The country's National Development and Reform Commission is hoping the purchase of new air conditioners will save 75 terawatt-hours of power demand annually in coming years. The country used about 2,900 terawatt-hours of electricity a year in 2006, according to the most recent data from the Asian Development Bank; the U.S. used around 4,000.