Abstract

The book's central theme is that information and communications technologies have played a critical role in reducing energy waste and increasing energy efficiency. Three ways in which ICT is being applied to increase energy efficiency. One way is the array of energy management systems which can monitor automatically energy consumption both in the areas of production and consumption, transforming energy use from traditional mode of energy intensive consumption to optimal mode, making scientific and rational programs of arrangement of energy use and distribution on the basis of energy use. The second way is the gain of increasing labour productivity and energy productivity, reducing energy consumption by applying ICT to the whole progress which comprises of product designing, manufacturing, managing, transporting, sales, services. The third way is the gain of energy savings in the society by transforming work from a traditional mode to a new mode—telework and virtual meetings which can produce the benefits from reduced office space, congestion and travel costs. In addition, in a public policy perspective, the authors of this book give a method to analyze, arrange, evaluate on the status of ICT applications and the associated policies in the field of smart grid, intelligent transportation system, smart buildings, telework, virtual meetings.Comparing with institutional arrangement and policy supports for ICT applications between China and other countries, the conclusion is drawn that there is a deficiency in arrangement of policy, management, technology, human resources and funding, and come to a perfect program and measures in combination with foreign successful cases and the domestic reality. At present, as research on the policy of ICT-driven energy productivity is still at the weak link in China, the book maybe make a certain contribution for the research.

Keywords: ICT applications, Public Policy, Smart Grid, Intelligent Transportation System, Smart Buildings, Telework, Virtual Meetings