Building energy efficiency in China rural areas: Situation, drawbacks, challenges, corresponding measures and policies

•Situation and features of BEC in rural areas are introduced.•Drawbacks of rural building energy efficiency are analyzed.•The challenges in rural energy efficiency work are analyzed.•Energy efficiency measures are put forward.•Suggestions on national policies and standards are given.

At present, building energy consumption (BEC) accounts for about 30% of total energy consumption in China, where rural BEC (RBEC) accounts for 37% of total BEC and it still shows a trend of increase year by year. To reduce RBEC is a strategic problem in new rural construction under the premise of improving rural living standards. Firstly, authors introduced the situation of RBEC, and then figured out problems and challenges in rural building energy efficiency. Secondly, authors put forward some measures about how to reduce RBEC based on strategy of adjusting measures to local conditions, including architecture planning and design, building envelope system, renewable energy development and utilization, and daily life energy saving. Finally, based on the analysis mentioned above, authors made some suggestions on policies and standards to improve building energy efficiency. Rural building energy efficiency not only has vital significance of improving rural resident living standards and life qualities but also has important meaning to reduce energy consumption and to promote new rural construction.