Nine environmental organizations have launched an energy-saving program by fixing the temperature of air conditioners at 26 degrees centigrade in public facilities nationwide, as part of the effort to combat power shortages and protect the environment.

The program, which was initiated last Sunday, is entitled "26 Centigrade-degree Air-conditioner Energy-saving Action." It has marshaled a number of domestic and foreign institutions in Beijing, including the China Environmental News Publishing House and German Embassy in China.

The organizers urged all kinds of public facilities, such as office buildings, hotels, shopping centers and supermarkets, and schools, to join in the action.

If all public sites in Beijing set their temperature at 26 centigrade degrees, they would save as much as 300 million kwh of electricity, around 150 million yuan (about US$18 million),and cut 10 percent of the power load of the city.

There would also be a reduction in the emission of sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide by 1,200 tons and 250,000 tons, respectively.