Jane Chen / Shanghai Daily news

In an environmentally friendly move, Shanghai will encourage the use of solar energy in suburban villa projects, today's Shanghai Morning Post reported.
The Shanghai Housing, Land and Resource Administration said yesterday that the city's first property project making use of this clean energy is a success.  One hundred and nineteen families in the project in the northern district of Baoshan will be the first group of beneficiaries.
A family pays 4,000 yuan (US$484) to install this equipment, but will probably recover this cost in four years because the solar energy technology is expected to help generate heat energy valued at about 1,000 yuan each year, according to officials.
It's an opportune time for the city to promote this clean energy in rural areas, according to Li Juanjuan with the administration's real estate division.
The administration plans to promote the technology among rural communities and villa projects in such suburban districts as Fengxian, Qingpu and Jinshan.