In this highly urbanised city of Hong Kong, most of our daily activities take place inside buildings. Facilities like lighting, air-conditioning and lifts have become an indispensable part of our daily life. They have made our lives more convenient and comfortable but they also consume lots of energy. Currently, about 90 per cent of our electricity consumption takes place in buildings, and electricity thus accounts for 60 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions in Hong Kong. In view of this, promoting environmental protection and energy saving in both public and private buildings is important in reducing energy consumption in Hong Kong.
Last Thursday, the Environment Bureau announced the Energy Saving Plan for the Built Environment 2015~2025+. The plan sets energy conservation and emission reduction targets for Hong Kong, with a view to achieving overall energy intensity reduction of at least 40 per cent from the 2005 level by 2025. To help Hong Kong achieve these targets, the Development Bureau has complementary measures under its purview, in particular the promotion of greener building designs and energy-efficient technology for different types of buildings, so as to reduce energy consumption.
As a matter of fact, in recent years the Government has been promoting the green building concept in some 8 000 government buildings to enhance energy efficiency. Since 2009, the Development Bureau has been working with relevant government departments to set quantitative targets on various green performance aspects for new and existing government buildings including energy efficiency, renewable energy, indoor air quality, waste and water management, greenhouse gas emissions and more. With the joint effort of colleagues from various government departments, government buildings achieved a 5 per cent electricity consumption reduction during the period from 2009-10 to 2013-14. However, we will not rest on our laurels. We are planning for another 5 per cent reduction in electricity consumption over the next five years, using the 2013-14 electricity consumption as the baseline.
At the same time, we will raise the required BEAM Plus ratings for government buildings. Currently, all new government buildings with a construction floor area of 10 000 square metres or more have to attain at least the second highest grade (such as a Gold rating) under BEAM Plus or other internationally recognised green building assessments. Our new target is to require all new government buildings with a construction floor area of 5 000 square metres or more to achieve this standard. Meanwhile, government buildings which serve as landmarks or are iconic should consider achieving a “Platinum” rating, which is the highest grade under the assessment system, irrespective of their floor areas.
As regards private building projects, to better address public concerns over building bulk and building density, the Government has introduced a package of measures since 2011, including setting a 10 per cent overall cap to the gross floor area (GFA) concessions a new building can be granted. In addition, new prerequisites were introduced for a new building to be qualified for seeking any GFA concessions, including compliance with the Sustainable Building Design Guidelines, which impose a number of design requirements such as increasing building separation and permeability, introducing building setbacks and enhancing site greenery, and registration for BEAM Plus assessment. This regime can, on the one hand, address public expectations on the green and amenity features of buildings, and, on the other, minimise the environmental impact brought about by the volume and height of buildings to the surroundings. Since 2011, there have been more than 260 development proposals approved by the Buildings Department that secured registration for conducting BEAM Plus assessment.
For energy efficiency of private buildings, under the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance implemented in 2012, building services installations of new buildings and existing buildings undergoing major retrofitting works are required to attain basic energy efficiency standards. The Ordinance also requires commercial buildings to conduct an energy audit every 10 years and publish the audit results. We will continue to review these requirements on a regular basis.
It is far from enough to make Hong Kong a green and energy-saving city by merely implementing the Government’s plan and measures. The most important thing, after all, is to promote public awareness of environmental protection and energy saving, and for every Hong Kong person to practise it in daily life. A simple good habit such as turning off unused electrical appliances can already help to save our world’s resources. Let’s work together to meet the target of the Energy Saving Plan and turn Hong Kong into a greener city.
17 May, 2015
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