Summer weather in Beijing is hot and humid and so tourists for the 2008 Summer Olympics will certainly expect some decent air-conditioning in their pricy hotel rooms.  But despite huge increases in electrical generation capacity, supply in Beijing is still very tight, and when it comes to keeping the lights on, an embarassing blackout or "rolling brown-out" is simply not an option.  As usual with all governments, China reports these measures as being "eco-motivated".  So expect your accomodation to be just a little warmer, and with less-fresh sheets.

From ChinaDaily:

Beijing's hotels have been told to adopt new energy-conservation measures to make them more eco-friendly.

Hotel managers have been asked to maintain temperatures of no cooler than 26 C in summer and no warmer than 20 C in the winter.

For Americans - that's no cooler than 79 in the summer, and no warmer than 68 in winter.  Tolerably comfortable, but not quite ideal, and if you're like me, if you're paying hundreds a night for a room - you'd better be able to get those temperature in the reverse seasons.

Beijing Vice-Mayor Ding Xiangyang said at a conference yesterday that the moves are mandatory, unlike previous efforts to encourage energy conservation.

"Enforcement officials will be sent around to make sure these measures have been implemented," he said.

... Beijing's consumption of power is increasing every year, placing a heavy burden on the electricity grid,  Ding said the municipal government would not allow any blackouts in Beijing.

The hotel industry is one of the major consumers of electricity in Beijing, using one fifth of the total power consumed by the service sector.

... The standards require hotels to use water-saving equipment, install power-saving light bulbs and wash their linens less frequently.