Taiyuan city, capital of North China's Shanxi province, recently released an ambitious plan on energy conservation and energy consumption reduction for the current year to to encourage its residents to choose a green lifestyle. 

The plan proposes as its goal that the energy consumption per 10,000 yuan ($1,421.62) of gross domestic product of Taiyuan this year will decrease by 15 percent compared with that of 2015.

By the end of this year, the proportion of the green building area in Taiyuan's new construction area is expected to increase to 50 percent and renewable energy buildings will account for over 50 percent of newly constructed buildings, officials said.

The city will continue to carry out the energy-saving renovation of old residential areas and increase the application of green building materials in construction.

Turning to transportation, officials said Taiyuan will ensure that all its buses in the urban built-up area are powered by electricity by the end of the current year.

The city will encourage the elimination of old high-energy consumption vehicles, promote the application of efficient, energy-saving and eco-friendly vehicles and guide the public towards choosing low-carbon public transport when travelling.

Public parking lots under construction and renovation will add parking spaces especially for new energy vehicles and charging piles.

In the services sector, Taiyuan will build green shopping malls, promote the green development of trade companies and advocate green catering and thrift in the catering industry. 

Officials said it will focus on energy-saving in transportation, warehousing, postal services, finance, real estate and other major service industries.

To achieve energy conservation, the city will also explore reform of its initial allocation of energy use rights and the energy trading system.