Electricity and China; Chinese are more Energy Conscious then American.
Sat, Feb 23, 2008
The second night we were here in Nanjing University, one of my friends came back to a room fill with darkness. We thought there was a blackout, but realize minutes later that everyone else had electricity except for her room. After making a few phone calls, we realize that electricity in the hotel/dormitory we are staying in is “ration”. Each day we are ration 2 “duol”, I was told that is the measurement for electricity here. Unfortunately one hour of heating up the room takes up 2 “duol”. The people who work at the hotel dormitory says that an average international student uses about 25 “duol” a day because during the winter they use a lot of heat and in the summer they use alot of air conditioning. So my friend basically used too much electricity and now must pay for her extra usage.
In the United States, at Drew University, I am use to leaving everything on from my television to my computer and other appliances. We even sometime open the window and turn on the heat at the same time. That was how wasteful we were back in the States. Here, the Chinese really are a very energy conscious group of people. Even at the Motel 168 we stayed at in Shanghai, the only way that the electricity would work is if you put in your magnetic keys, which also opens the door, so when you leave the room, all the electricity are turned off because you take the key with you. Only here in China have I started to think how about big of an energy hog Americans are. We complain so much about the price of oil and electricity but we never really do anything to try to conserve energy. Here in China, it seems that everyone is trying to use the least amount of energy as possible.
When the Chinese do use electricity, it is very pretty, here are some pictures of the night scene in Shanghai and Nanjing. The first two are from Shanghai, while the last two is from Nanjing.
February 23rd, 2008 at 6:50 am
I came to your article through stumble!, and feel excited because I am from Nanjing University:)
about the energy, sometimes it is wasted just for nothing. That’s really pity!
February 24th, 2008 at 2:27 am
I’m planning to go to Nanjing unversity in the Fall. So how is nanjing and the school so far?
February 24th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
It is really good one … I don’t know .. when that day comes to INDIA … and Indian people think over Electricity usage …. When that day comes? I am afraid coz of high rates per unit in India….don’t know how the people in remote area live …it is rally shame to use too much electricity ….
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February 24th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
China sounds like my dad, “If you’re not in your room, why is the light on?”
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February 25th, 2008 at 5:12 am
@ zisurs
Nice to meet you! Maybe I’ll see you around campus sometimes, I’m the funny looking Cambodian kid!
@ Candice
From what I have been through, I would definately recommend nanjing University. It’s really nice here, although it is different from the states. Come and and read more of my updates.
@ QT
It will be very interesting to see what India decide to do.
@StanHayes
My dad says the same thing!
February 25th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
What if we had the same dad?! That would totally mess up my mind.
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February 27th, 2008 at 2:04 am
It’s funny that for a country that is very backward in terms of infrastructure, all the government schools in China are equipped with clap-on/clap-off type lighting. I was wondering why the students were walking “heavily”, with each step making a very deliberate sound when walking the halls at night but not during the day. Alone one night, I realized that if they didn’t do that, they would be stuck in the dark hallways like me ;D
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February 27th, 2008 at 5:22 am
Perhaps China has priced electricity at a level high enough for her people to feel the pinch? Maybe the rest of the world should be paying more for the electricity that we use.
I don’t think the inherent ‘love for nature’ exist in the Chinese (the same for the rest of us as well). At the end of the day is really how much it’ll hurt (or cost) you now.
C K’s last blog post..Lille, Europe
February 27th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
@CK: nope, China has the lowest energy prices in the world because they use coal as their primary resource. The reason for the careful conservation is that its a huge country with a huge population and there’s not enough to go around. Also, China has only recently started making money and so for 30 odd years or so has been very tight will all resources and that has simply carried over to today although we are certainly starting to see Western excesses being introduced all the time. (Such as useless bulky resource hogging packaging)
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February 28th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Didn’t realise that China has the lowest energy prices. Thanks for clearing that up.
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February 28th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Great post, I will be linking to this post. I also really enjoyed the photos.
I think if more American homes were designed in a way to make people aware of how much energy is in use at any time, we might see changes in how people modify their personal energy consumption.
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February 28th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Does China allow you to only post once a week? C’mon, get some posts up here!
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February 28th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I like how you stereotype all Americans by your experience at Drew University, but it sounds more like you were doing this out of your own habits.
As for me, an American, I have never done that because it not only wastes electricity, but also makes the room cold.
I thought that was obvious.
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February 28th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
@Tom
I use my experience at Drew as an example. That is not the only reason why I think American are wasteful. Take a look at how many SUV’s and oil hungry vehicles that are on the road in America. Take a look at the attitude of American when they see $3 a gallon price at gas station.
I must admit, I did do some stereotyping but there are times when stereotypes are true. You are a very defensive American, but there are some American that you should not stand up for. Yes there are Americans that do care of how much electricity they use, but most American do waste a lot of electricity, you should not defend those American that are wasteful.
I always welcome counter arguments but please next time try to refrain from personal attacks.
March 2nd, 2008 at 2:28 am
First let me apologize if I came across as trying to personally attack you. I didn’t mean it as such.
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March 8th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Hey man — where have you been? Missing you on the ecard forums! Lots of fun going on over there. You must be real busy too since this post is so old. Hope you are well and that everything is happy in your life.
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September 8th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Yes, I agree with you. I lived in China for some years and it their mentality to use the least amount of energy as possible.
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November 16th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Yeah that might be the case now, but when they start to get their coal industry in line with the demand and all of it starts to even out they will go crazy, just like the U.S. be wasting electricy like crazy…
The only reason they are energy concious now is because they are a devoloping country and don’t have all the right inferstructure set up, but they will soon enough and be wasting it just like us americans…
HORRAY!