Measurement of the energy saving rate of technological progress

Technical progress is so complicated to measure that we are difficult to determine the contribution rate of technological progress to the changes of energy efficiency. After calculating energy saving amount and energy saving rate, this research puts forward measurement method of the energy saving rate of technological progress, and measures Chinese energy saving rate of technological progress based on Chinese data since reform and opening up. We conclude that the meaning of energy saving is similar to energy efficiency, and the mechanism of technological progress to improve energy efficiency is that all of the technical means and measures make the energy demand of additional unit output reduce. The energy saving rate of technological progress is proportional to per capita capital growth rate, but inversely proportional to per capita energy consumption growth rate. Results indicate that the energy saving rate of technological progress is 2.4%, the contribution rate of technological progress to Chinese energy saving rate is 60%, and technological progress has significantly improved energy efficiency.