As temperatures drop, the need for heat rises, and much of China now has to take extra care while heating their homes. In north China's Shanxi Province, nearly a dozen cities can no longer use coal. They are forced to rely on other forms of energy.
Shanxi, one of China's most coal-rich regions, continues cracking down on its usage. As of October, Shanxi's the no-coal zone now stretches across 11 cities, with an area spanning 3,000 square kilometers.
These localized zones now prohibit the storage, sale and usage of coal. So households have to act accordingly to replace their heating systems, switching to gas or electricity.
Downtown Datong now still has around 4,000 one-story households waiting to be demolished. /CGTN Photo
In the city of Datong, the province's second largest city known as "coal capital" for its rich coal resources, most urban households have been incorporated into the communal heating system.
Zhang Hai, Chief Engineer of Datong Environment Protection Bureau, said, "Our no coal zone mainly relies on communal heating systems this winter. Those who are not within the system are those households that will soon be demolished. For now, we encourage them to use clean energy for their heating supply."
There are still around 4,000 households slated for demolition due to city construction. They still have some time before they have to move. Many of them have bought electric heaters in order to keep warm during cold days.
A communal heating system in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province. /CGTN Photo
The communal heating system uses heat generated by local power plants. Although the power plants still burn coal, emissions are kept low by using newer technologies.
Zhang Hai is happy that air quality has improved in Datong, "The average daily PM2.5 concentration here from January to October was 33 micrograms per cubic meter while the number last year was 35. We've made progress and it is a good result."
Many households that used to burn coal have installed gas boilers in north China's Shanxi Province. /CGTN Photo
In fact, Datong is one of many cities in Shanxi that started limiting coal usage a few years ago. By the end of October, nearly 4,000 coal burners were torn down in the province. And more than 500,000 households turned to clean energy for heat.
Provincial environmental authorities say in the first ten months of 2018, average levels of sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide dropped respectively by about 40 and 20 percent.
In a bid to further curb coal consumption and reduce pollution, prevention regulations and air pollution control measures will take effect starting Jan.1, 2019. It will be the strictest law ever in the history of the province.