Amanda Lam, Helios F. Osmanoglu, Evan Siegel, Tam Pui Ho, Dickson Tso, Paulina Vu

The Great Indoors: Building Energy Efficiency in Hong Kong

OutlineProblem Section

•Background•Problem•Building Codes•Building Ordinance and Rating System

•Current Policies

Solution Section•Policy Recommendation & Implementation

•Why this policy?•Case study of Singapore •Challenges and Closing Statement

•Questions

Background of Hong Kong•British colony until 1997. •Rapid population growth since 1950s.

•Economic take-off since 1970s.•Fast infrastructure and properties construction.•Energy efficiencies were not the main concern.

The Problem

•Hong Kong is a growing city.

•HK buildings consume 90% of the city’s electricity.

•No strong authority to enforce.

•Low efficient use of energy affects overall living quality.

•Energy is running outElectricity Consumption by Sector 2012

Population vs Electricity Consumption per capita

Current Policies by Bureaus and Departments

● Environment BureauCollects data on buildings and releases annual sustainable building guidelines

● Development Bureau ○ Building Department has limited codes on building

efficiencies (BEER)--external○ Electrical Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) - Building

Energy Efficiency Ordinance (BEEO)--internal

Current Building Codes-What do buildings have to do now?

New Buildings

•Minimum standards. •Weak laws for four system

(AC,Electricity,Lighting,Lifts)•New buildings become existing

buildings the day they receive their occupation permit.

Existing Buildings

• Specifies that involving the four installations, or of floor space greater than 500 square meters.• Need to meet the codes in force at that time.• Weak laws for the same four categories in the BEC.

Not enough to overcome the energy crisis of Hong Kong, especially the tremendous amount of energy consumed by commercial buildings.

Building Ordinance and Rating System

The Building Energy Efficiency Ordinance

Issues: •Audits are required, but changes are

recommended only unless major renovations are taking place

•BEC are mostly guidelines for existing buildings

•No regulatory body

Building Environmental Assessment Method

Issues: •Rating System does not directly

address building energy efficiency•Voluntary•Fees for assessment

Policy Recommendation •Create Building Energy Efficiency Department within Development Bureau

•BEED will enforce efficiency standards on buildings

•Gives authority to the government

Policy Implementation● Building energy use information made available to

public● New buildings must abide (BEED) standards when

built● Government provides subsidies to help retrofits

Why This Policy?•Lacking enforcement authority•Population growth = Energy

consumption•Energy use reduction will offset

demand•Cost of electricity decreases as

demand is decreased•Supports Government’s carbon

reduction goals•Building Efficiency cheapest

option

Levelized cost of resource options

Effective Government Enforcement of Building Energy Efficiency in Singapore

•Strong governmental institutions (National Climate Change Committee)–strict building code mandates–subsidies for retrofitting, training and consultation

•Energy use decreased by 15%•Implementation of a similar policy in Hong Kong could result in a

reduction in energy intensity.

Summary•Policy difficult to implement: political climate, quantitative aspect

•Long term and short term trade-offs•Hong Kong as a future city

Questions?