I. Policy Focus: From Pilot Promotion to Nationwide Mandatory Implementation

Ultra-low-energy buildings, as the “highest-end form” of building energy efficiency, are now seeing a policy shift—from “encouraging pilot programs” to “full-scale promotion.”

At the national level, the “Action Plan for the Development of Ultra-Low Energy Consumption Building Industry (2023-2025)” clearly states that by 2025, the cumulative floor area of ultra-low energy consumption buildings nationwide will exceed 100 million square meters, and a number of industrial clusters with annual output value exceeding 10 billion yuan will be cultivated. The “General Code for Energy Conservation in Buildings and Utilization of Renewable Energy” has incorporated ultra-low energy consumption building standards as mandatory requirements, driving the upgrade of energy efficiency standards from “75%” to “nearly zero energy consumption.”

Local Boost:

Hebei has taken the lead in achieving “full coverage”: Starting in 2024, 100% of newly built residential buildings in urban areas will be constructed to ultra-low energy consumption standards, with a financial subsidy of 300 yuan per square meter provided.

Jinan, Shandong Province, offers rewards of up to 5 million yuan for ultra-low-energy consumption building projects; in 2023, the city’s total completed area exceeded 8 million square meters.

Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and other regions are incorporating ultra-low-energy-consumption buildings as mandatory requirements in affordable housing and key development zones. In southern regions, efforts are gradually breaking through bottlenecks in climate adaptation.

II. Market Uprising: A Blue-Ocean Track with Doubling in Scale

Driven by policies and constrained by energy consumption targets, the ultra-low-energy building market is experiencing explosive growth.

Scale Data: According to statistics from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, in 2023, the newly built area of ultra-low-energy consumption buildings nationwide reached 28 million square meters, an increase of 115% over 2022. The market size has exceeded 80 billion yuan. It is projected that by 2025, the newly built area will reach 50 million square meters, with a market size surpassing 150 billion yuan, and an annual compound growth rate exceeding 60%.

Industrial chain layout:

Upstream: Companies such as North New Building Materials (vacuum insulation panels) and Wanhua Chemical (polyurethane insulation materials) have achieved breakthroughs in core material technologies, reducing the thermal conductivity of insulation materials to as low as 0.018 W/(m·K).

Midstream: Construction is led by companies such as China State Construction and Beijing Zhuzong. Beijing Zhuzong’s “Ultra-Low Energy Consumption Building Industrialized Construction Technology” has reduced construction periods by 20%.

Downstream: Property developers such as Vanke, Jinmao, and Far East Horizon are accelerating their market expansion. Jinmao’s “Green Building Technology” series of projects have collectively reached a total completed area of over 3 million square meters, while Far East Horizon’s “Zero-Carbon Residential Districts” have achieved a 65% reduction in carbon emissions across the entire lifecycle of buildings.

III. Core Advantages: Ultra-high energy efficiency and outstanding full-lifecycle value.

Compared to traditional buildings and conventional green buildings, ultra-low-energy buildings represent a “qualitative leap” in terms of advantages:

Ultra-energy efficiency: By combining passive design strategies (high-efficiency thermal insulation, high airtightness, and elimination of thermal bridges) with active energy-saving technologies, building energy consumption is reduced by 60% to 75% compared to buildings meeting the 75% energy-saving standard. In northern heating regions, the average annual energy consumption per household is only 20–30 kilowatt-hours per square meter—equivalent to just one-fifth of that for conventional buildings.

Consistently comfortable temperatures: The indoor temperature is maintained year-round between 20-26℃, with relative humidity ranging from 40% to 60%. Thanks to this advanced system, you can enjoy warmth in winter and coolness in summer without relying on conventional air conditioning or heating. Noise levels are kept below 35 decibels, offering a comfort level far superior to that of typical buildings.

Long-term benefits: Although initial construction costs increase by 10% to 15% (approximately RMB 800 to 1,200 per square meter), ordinary residential buildings can recoup the additional costs within 5 to 8 years thanks to zero heating expenses and low electricity bills. Moreover, the building’s lifespan is extended to 100 years, resulting in a reduction of more than 30% in the overall life-cycle costs.