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You're definitely right about that. On the other hand, I don't think I'm any better informed than Chinese policy makers or technologists in the energy sector.

You're definitely right about that. On the other hand, I don't think I'm any better informed than Chinese policy makers or technologists in the energy sector. I mean, the technology we're talking about really isn't rocket science: a precipitator is just a pair of plates charged to high voltage with dirty air forced through. Moreover, Chinese elites certainly travel to the US and Europe and Hong Kong (indeed, many attend colleges abroad) and they get the differences in air quality very well. I would be very shocked if said elites never went back home and inquired as to the difference and what it would take to eliminate it. My guess is that they could substantially reduce power plant emissions for an increased electrical cost of at most a few percent. On the other hand, I think China uses coal with a much higher sulphur content than is typically used in the US and they have substantial non-power-plant coal burning....

wiradikusuma 14y ago
Just assume those Chinese elites you mentioned don't care other people's health (since it's costing them money). But how about _their_ (or their family's) health since they also share the same air?
- chii 14y ago
  They move _their_ own family out of china as much as possible. I assume that those elites (like the elites in other countries) would also not care about the wellbeing of others, especially if it costs them money and gains them no profit. It's just the way the world is.
  - corporalagumbo 14y ago
    They're not spending their own money, they're (ostensibly) allocating state funds like any other bureaucrats.
- tsotha 14y ago
  In China the trend is for wealthy people to buy home air purification systems. They breath the same air as everyone else when they go out, but at home it's top shelf.
  - Mvandenbergh 14y ago
    A friend of mine sells building-scale air purification systems in Asia and this is definitely the case. The nicest new buildings in wealthier Chinese cities have seriously heavy duty air filtration systems and are built with heavy duty windown and door seals. The urban middle class buys portable air filtration systems, it's a huge market.
corporalagumbo 14y ago
My understanding is that for China the number one priority is more power, ASAP. So they opt for cheaper power plant designs because they want as much immediate generating capacity as they can get for their limited funds (a lot of capital yes, but spread across a very large population.) unfortunately this means skimping on investments like more efficient and lower-emitting technologies, which might save money in the long run, but cost more up front. There may be an incompetence factor but it sounds on paper rational. Between freezing and coughing what would you pick?

wiradikusuma 14y ago

Just assume those Chinese elites you mentioned don't care other people's health (since it's costing them money). But how about _their_ (or their family's) health since they also share the same air?

chii 14y ago
They move _their_ own family out of china as much as possible. I assume that those elites (like the elites in other countries) would also not care about the wellbeing of others, especially if it costs them money and gains them no profit. It's just the way the world is.
- corporalagumbo 14y ago
  They're not spending their own money, they're (ostensibly) allocating state funds like any other bureaucrats.
tsotha 14y ago
In China the trend is for wealthy people to buy home air purification systems. They breath the same air as everyone else when they go out, but at home it's top shelf.
- Mvandenbergh 14y ago
  A friend of mine sells building-scale air purification systems in Asia and this is definitely the case. The nicest new buildings in wealthier Chinese cities have seriously heavy duty air filtration systems and are built with heavy duty windown and door seals. The urban middle class buys portable air filtration systems, it's a huge market.

corporalagumbo 14y ago

My understanding is that for China the number one priority is more power, ASAP. So they opt for cheaper power plant designs because they want as much immediate generating capacity as they can get for their limited funds (a lot of capital yes, but spread across a very large population.) unfortunately this means skimping on investments like more efficient and lower-emitting technologies, which might save money in the long run, but cost more up front. There may be an incompetence factor but it sounds on paper rational. Between freezing and coughing what would you pick?