Global warming and financial crisis have brought severe threats to human existence and economic growth. Utilization of potential for energy savings is necessary for alleviating energy shortage, protecting environment and achieving sustainable economic and social development. This paper has not only comprehensively evaluated the China's energy savings opportunities, but also systematically analyzed the primary challenges and deficiencies in China's energy savings policies, and proposed targeted countermeasures and suggestions. This is of important guiding significance for China to establish a long-term effective mechanism to boost energy-saving technologies and products, and to promote the economic development toward a low-carbon mode. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.