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UPDATED: January 28, 2013 NO. 5 JANUARY 31, 2013
Central Heating in South China?
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Shu Shengxiang (Changjiang Daily): In recent years, during winter, calls for central heating in the south have increased.

In the absence of effective facilities, temperatures inside southern homes are often very low. On sunny days, it's colder inside than outside while on rainy or cloudy days, it's almost the same temperature on either side.

Due to previous national economic difficulties, it was decided in the 1950s that central heating systems would only be built in cities north of the geographical line of the Qinling Mountains and the Huaihe River. This clearly reveals that the question of heating came down to economics instead of necessity. China is now more than capable of providing its citizens with heat, so why wait?

Some experts argue southerners are used to humid conditions and will find difficult to adjust to central heating systems. This is ridiculous. Will northerners have the problem if they did not have heating facilities? I think not.

Others point to the costs involved. In fact, nowadays people in the south spend almost as much as those in the north on heating via air conditioners or individual heaters. In terms of energy consumption, separate family heating costs more than centralized heating.

Li Guo (Xinhua Daily Telegraph): Despite wide-spread debate on the issue, there has yet to be an official response to the controversial topic.

In an online survey conducted by China's biggest microblog Sina Weibo, more than 80 percent of the 20,000 respondents said they are in favor of building heating systems in southern Chinese cities.

Recent records show that the average temperature inside homes in southern areas is much lower than the average 15 degrees Centigrade in heated northern cities. In some extreme cases it's even colder inside than outside.

For many years, southerners used honeycomb coal and coke as well as heaters, air conditioners or household floor heating to keep warm. We hope that the governments will pay more attention to this issue and take tangible action.

Opponents

Yao Ye (Shanghai Evening Post): Due to historical reasons, south China has no central heating facilities. Therefore, if such a system is provided, existing pipeline networks must be adjusted. In order to adapt to the humid and warmer climate, buildings in the south must also pays more attention to ventilation, which might not be suitable for heating. Buildings will also have to be vastly upgraded. Both cases will involve a lot of money.

Even if the project is successful, it does not mean heating systems will work as effectively in the south as in the north. Humid air has led to a relatively high thermal conductivity coefficient. As a result, a lot of heat energy is lost in the process of transmission.

A Meng (Guangzhou Daily): Although it can sometimes be extremely cold in the south, such weather only lasts for a month or so. Therefore, we have to consider whether a central heating system is actually worthwhile because of the huge expense involved. Another problem is coal, which is in shortage across the south. Whether ordinary electric power supplies can cope with large-scale centralized heating systems is questionable.

Furthermore, southerners might not welcome such a system. In a pilot program in a southern city, every household is required to pay 7 yuan ($1.1) per square meter a month. With short cold weather periods, is the cost worthwhile?

Dear Readers,

Forum is a column that provides a space for varying perspectives on contemporary Chinese society. We invite you to submit personal viewpoints on past and current topics (in either English or Chinese).

Email us at: zanjifang@bjreview.com

Please provide your name and address along with your comments.

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