Mumbai: China has restricted the temperature of all air-conditioned public rooms in the country at no lower than 26 degrees centigrade, as part of its energy conservation measures.

For winter, the temperature would be 20 degrees centigrade, a government circular issued to all central and local government bodies said.

The circular, issued by the State Council, or the cabinet, said the limit as an in effort to save China''s limited energy resources and brace for the upcoming electricity demand peak in summer.

All government agencies, associations, groups, companies and private owners in public buildings should "strictly comply with this rule", the circular said.

Doors and windows should be closed when air conditioners are on, it said, adding that the temperature ceiling in winter at 20 degrees centigrade.

The circular also bans air-conditioners with low energy efficiency from entering the market and encourages users to make technical changes to make air-conditioners more energy-saving.

The new guidelines shows that China is sticking to the original plan of saving energy and reducing major pollutant discharges by 10 per cent.

China''s need of energy has soared as the economy has grown. The shortages of coal, electric power, petroleum and shipping capacity are the big challenges that China faces in its development.

The State Council reiterated its intention to meet strict energy efficiency and pollutant reduction targets in an official work plan.

China''s demand for energy has soared with economic expansion and satisfying that increase has become the biggest challenge the nation faces in its development.

Parts of Shanghai suffered a power cut last week and officials fear further failures this summer as the overburdened energy network of China''s largest city and other parts of the country lag behind its rapid growth.

The Chinese government set a goal of reducing energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20 per cent by 2010, but failed miserably in 2006, the first year of implementation.

But the State Council said the 2010 target could still be met, and issued the air-conditioning limit as part of a range of measures aimed at getting the energy efficiency goals back on track.

The energy efficiency measures are also part of a broader national strategy to combat climate change.