In order to save energy, Chinese legislators have discarded their usual Western-style suits for the first time en masse, and opted for casual clothing during a session of the parliament as the temperature in the air-conditioned meeting rooms was increased to 26 degrees.

Members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the top legislative body of China, were all in their shirt sleeves for the first time with the temperature in the meeting rooms raised from 24 degrees centigrade.

"At first, we considered it appropriate for the country's top legislature to hold meetings with the lawmakers wearing suits and ties to match the solemnity of the occasion," an official with the general office of the NPC Standing Committee said.

"However, after discussion, we agreed that the NPC should act as a model to save China's limited energy resources," he added.

Chinese President Hu Jintao wore a shirt instead of heavy suit when he delivered a keynote speech at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Monday, which the media said encouraged other officials to follow suit and dress lightly.

Earlier this month, the Chinese cabinet said room temperatures in air-conditioned public buildings should be set at a minimum 26 degrees centigrade, to save energy during the peak demand for electricity in summer.

All government agencies, associations, groups, companies and private owners in public buildings should "strictly comply with this rule," the cabinet said.