Swire Properties “Green Performance Pledge” Exceeds 50% Target Participation Rate^
Towngas Biodiversity and New Energies Symposium Draws Over 5,000 Participants
[HK Report 2024 Interview Series - Professor Edward NG] Enhancing Urban Planning Resilience to Overcome the Challenges of Extreme Weather
Join the Fantastic Activities of Hong Kong Green Building Week 2024 - Hop on the Green Building Express towards Carbon Neutrality by 2050!
Simplified Chinese Version of “BEAM Plus Existing Buildings (Global Version)” is Now Available
Swire Properties “Green Performance Pledge” Exceeds 50% Target Participation Rate^
The office landlord-tenant collaboration continues to drive substantial energy savings and waste diversion rates
Swire Properties' proprietary sustainability initiative for office tenants, the Green Performance Pledge (GPP), celebrated its third year with a host of new achievements that included participation from over 100 tenants across Taikoo Place, Pacific Place and Citygate.
Participating tenants achieved substantial energy and waste reductions over the past year, including a collective reduction in electricity consumption of nearly 750,000 kWh, equivalent to the annual electricity usage by 227 three-person households in Hong Kong, and diverted over 200 tonnes of waste from landfill through reuse and recycling, with the support of the tools provided, such as smart energy and water meters, water flow regulators and smart waste solutions.
The GPP offers a user-friendly platform for landlord-tenant collaboration, and supports tenants as they adopt the best sustainability practices throughout the entire tenancy lifecycle – from fit out and operations. As of June 2024, participation rate in the GPP stood at 54% of occupied lettable floor area (over 3.8 million sq ft of office space*) across the Company’s Hong Kong portfolio, including signups from 100% of new tenants at Six Pacific Place and 75% of Two Taikoo Place tenants. The programme was also rolled out to the Company’s office portfolio in the Chinese Mainland in November 2023 to drive a broader impact.
Marking another successful year, the Company hosted the 2024 edition of the Annual GPP Forum in Hong Kong, which was attended by over 170 tenant representatives and sustainability partners across multiple sectors.
Participating tenants achieved substantial energy and waste reductions over the past year, including a collective reduction in electricity consumption of nearly 750,000 kWh, equivalent to the annual electricity usage by 227 three-person households in Hong Kong, and diverted over 200 tonnes of waste from landfill through reuse and recycling, with the support of the tools provided, such as smart energy and water meters, water flow regulators and smart waste solutions.
The GPP offers a user-friendly platform for landlord-tenant collaboration, and supports tenants as they adopt the best sustainability practices throughout the entire tenancy lifecycle – from fit out and operations. As of June 2024, participation rate in the GPP stood at 54% of occupied lettable floor area (over 3.8 million sq ft of office space*) across the Company’s Hong Kong portfolio, including signups from 100% of new tenants at Six Pacific Place and 75% of Two Taikoo Place tenants. The programme was also rolled out to the Company’s office portfolio in the Chinese Mainland in November 2023 to drive a broader impact.
Marking another successful year, the Company hosted the 2024 edition of the Annual GPP Forum in Hong Kong, which was attended by over 170 tenant representatives and sustainability partners across multiple sectors.
Outstanding GPP Results
Over the past year, the GPP tenants have delivered significant results in terms of energy and waste reduction. Some highlights and figures from participating tenants (who reported electricity and waste data for both the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 cycles) include:
Over the past year, the GPP tenants have delivered significant results in terms of energy and waste reduction. Some highlights and figures from participating tenants (who reported electricity and waste data for both the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 cycles) include:
- Collective reduction in EUI by 3.8% – saving nearly 750,000 kWh, approximately the equivalent amount of electricity used by 227 three-person households in Hong Kong over one year, or collectively achieving nearly HK$1 million in tenant electricity cost savings;
- Waste diversion rate collectively increased by 10 percentage points, while total waste generation dropped by 41 tonnes; and over 200 tonnes of collected waste was diverted from landfill through reuse and recycling in 2023/24;
- Over 60% of GPP tenants maintained or improved their energy efficiency and waste diversion performance;
- More monitoring and data generation – 42% of GPP tenants have installed smart energy meters to facilitate the monitoring of 24-hour electricity usage patterns and identify energy-saving opportunities; 45% are now recording waste generation data digitally; and nearly all have installed smart water meters.
Learn more about the GPP: https://gpp.swireproperties.com/en/
^ Measured by occupied lettable floor area (“LFA”) of office portfolios on 100% basis comprising Taikoo Place and Pacific Place in Hong Kong, and Taikoo Hui Guangzhou in the Chinese Mainland.
* Measured by occupied lettable floor area (“LFA”) of office portfolios on 100% basis comprising Taikoo Place, Pacific Place and Citygate in Hong Kong.
^ Measured by occupied lettable floor area (“LFA”) of office portfolios on 100% basis comprising Taikoo Place and Pacific Place in Hong Kong, and Taikoo Hui Guangzhou in the Chinese Mainland.
* Measured by occupied lettable floor area (“LFA”) of office portfolios on 100% basis comprising Taikoo Place, Pacific Place and Citygate in Hong Kong.
Towngas Biodiversity and New Energies Symposium Draws Over 5,000 Participants
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) and Towngas Smart Energy Company Limited, in collaboration with the Hong Kong Management Association, held the Biodiversity and New Energies Symposium on 15 August 2024, the National Ecology Day. More than 20 guests from the business sector, public utilities, conservation organisations, and academia participated in the Symposium, discussing hydrogen industry development, green transformation in the transport sector through new energies, enhanced corporate disclosure of nature-related financial information, and balancing development with ecological conservation. Over 5,000 people attended the full-day Symposium in person or via live streaming, including representatives from foreign consulates, trade organisations, banking sector and ESG field.
Mr Peter WONG Wai-yee, Managing Director of Towngas, stated, “Energy affects all sectors of society, and green, low-carbon energy is undoubtedly the driving force for sustainable development. It also holds immense business potential, as governments worldwide are targeting carbon reduction and neutrality, making the green energy market truly global. Towngas is actively expanding its new energy business, including green methanol, hydrogen energy, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for sea, land, and air transport respectively, aligning with the HKSAR Government’s initiative to promote the new energy transport industry, as outlined in last year’s Policy Address.”
To commemorate National Ecology Day and the Symposium, Towngas announced the release of a commemorative stamp pack to raise public awareness of biodiversity. The stamps feature photographs selected from the winning entries of a previous wildlife photo contest organised by the Company, all taken in the Greater China region, reflecting the region’s rich biodiversity. The commemorative pack also highlights Towngas’ carbon reduction progress, underscoring the company’s determination to transform from a traditional public utility to an integrated clean energy supplier.
To access the full recordings of the keynote sessions and the panel discussion sessions, please visit HERE.
Mr Peter WONG Wai-yee, Managing Director of Towngas, delivers a welcome speech.
The Towngas Biodiversity and New Energies Symposium attracts over 5,000 online and offline participants.
Towngas releases a set of 12 commemorative stamps on National Ecology Day to encourage public interest in ecological conservation.
[HK Report 2024 Interview Series - Professor Edward NG] Enhancing Urban Planning Resilience to Overcome the Challenges of Extreme Weather
According to the Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address, the planned Northern Metropolis will be a liveable, work-friendly and tourism-friendly metropolitan area, with innovation and technology as its economic drivers. By the time building work is completed in 10 or 20 years, however, extreme weather may have become the new normal.
Prof. Edward NG, Yao Ling-sun Professor of Architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has been involved in research and teaching for over 30 years, focusing mainly on green building and the urban climate in city planning. He points out that the area to be encompassed by the Northern Metropolis is geographically known as an "airshed" – it traps heat as it does not face the sea or attract sea breezes. In order to reduce the heat island effect and lower the impact of extreme weather in the future, Prof. NG emphasises, high-density construction should be avoided. The Government must clearly understand the environmental carrying capacity of this area in future planning. Encouragingly, it has already incorporated the "Sponge City" concept into planning for the Northern Metropolis. This can prevent flooding, store and discharge excessive urban rainwater, enhance adaptability and resilience to climate change, provide more green leisure spaces, strengthen ventilation design, and provide appropriate shading facilities.
Global climate change is leading to rising sea levels, with the frequency of extreme rainfall and storm surges increasing the risk of flooding. To address climate change, Hong Kong needs to strengthen its flood prevention capabilities. In recent years, Drainage Services Department has been committed to strengthening the city’s drainage systems and has actively promoted the adoption of Sponge City design elements in the industry's engineering projects. These include the Anderson Road development area, Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme, and Tung Chung New Town Extension.
Prof. Edward NG, Yao Ling-sun Professor of Architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), has been involved in research and teaching for over 30 years, focusing mainly on green building and the urban climate in city planning. He points out that the area to be encompassed by the Northern Metropolis is geographically known as an "airshed" – it traps heat as it does not face the sea or attract sea breezes. In order to reduce the heat island effect and lower the impact of extreme weather in the future, Prof. NG emphasises, high-density construction should be avoided. The Government must clearly understand the environmental carrying capacity of this area in future planning. Encouragingly, it has already incorporated the "Sponge City" concept into planning for the Northern Metropolis. This can prevent flooding, store and discharge excessive urban rainwater, enhance adaptability and resilience to climate change, provide more green leisure spaces, strengthen ventilation design, and provide appropriate shading facilities.
Global climate change is leading to rising sea levels, with the frequency of extreme rainfall and storm surges increasing the risk of flooding. To address climate change, Hong Kong needs to strengthen its flood prevention capabilities. In recent years, Drainage Services Department has been committed to strengthening the city’s drainage systems and has actively promoted the adoption of Sponge City design elements in the industry's engineering projects. These include the Anderson Road development area, Happy Valley Underground Stormwater Storage Scheme, and Tung Chung New Town Extension.
"Every person has different spatial requirements, so how can urban design accommodate these diverse needs?” Prof. NG asks. “I frankly admit that there is no one-size-fits-all space. Embracing diversity is the way forward."
Implementing Green Building Strategies to Mitigate Impacts of Extreme Weather Events
Prof. NG points out that climate change has made heatwaves more frequent, more intense and longer-lasting. In high-density urban environments, the climate resilience of cities must be strengthened. He suggests starting with green building design, including the adoption of both passive and active sustainable building designs, to improve energy efficiency and thermal comfort. Passive design makes use of the building’s structure to provide energy-saving advantages and improve thermal comfort. Architects take appropriate measures in planning the building form and layout, orientation and selection of building materials to enhance the interaction between the building and the surrounding microclimate. Meanwhile, active design utilises mechanical and electrical systems to create and maintain a comfortable environment. These installations help improve the energy efficiency and water conservation of buildings, and can also enhance air quality.
Prof. NG further highlights the important role that green buildings play in addressing extremely hot weather. "A unit can be set up with two spaces, similar to residences abroad that have a bedroom and a living room,” he explains. “One space can be used as the activity area in the summer under normal circumstances. The building adopts a high ceiling design and is equipped with large cross-ventilating windows to achieve heat dissipation through natural ventilation. The other space is more suitable for extremely hot weather, as this space is designed to be smaller. Using air conditioners in this space consumes less energy."
Four Key Elements to Promote the Development of Green Building
Based on suggestions from the industry and academia, Prof. NG believes that there are four key elements to promote green buildings in the future:
- Economic incentives: The Government can formulate environmental policies or provide incentives to encourage developers to adopt renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, and conserve water in building construction.
- Widespread education: The concept of green buildings should be incorporated into curricula at all levels of education, cultivating a generation of professionals who value sustainable development.
- Developing business opportunities: Collaboration can be facilitated between green building experts, developers and businesses, allowing more market opportunities for green building. At the same time, the development of green building products and service providers should be promoted to increase competition and drive the adoption of new green building technologies.
- Community-led initiatives: Support should be given to establishing community organisations or green building advocacy groups to enhance the voice of citizens in policy-making and project planning.
Prof. NG firmly believes that by promoting the above four key elements, decision-makers, industry leaders and community stakeholders can work together to accelerate the promotion of green buildings and create a sustainable built environment for the future.
Based on suggestions from both industry and academia, Prof. NG believes there are four key elements to promoting green buildings in the future: economic incentives, widespread education, development of business opportunities and community-driven initiatives.
Can New Energy Technologies break through?
Prof. NG is relatively cautious about Hong Kong's ability to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. He believes that humanity must find new energy sources in order to achieve this goal, explaining that current energy sources cannot help us reach 100% carbon neutrality, unless scientists successfully develop “nuclear fusion”. However, there are many technical hurdles to overcome in achieving nuclear fusion, which is still at the experimental research stage. Scientists therefore need to continue their efforts to find other new energy sources.
The HKGBC and the Industry Work Together to Create a New Chapter
Prof. NG says that in the early days of the Hong Kong Green Building Council, it was still in the exploratory stage, but after 15 years of development, the Council's operating model has been perfected. For example, its “HKGBC Climate Change Framework For Built Environment” and “Zero-Carbon-Ready Building Certification Scheme” have become widely recognised by the industry. However, there is room for improvement in the industry’s efforts to promote a sustainable built environment, which requires the Council to strengthen its collaboration with various sectors.
Prof. NG has therefore presented this motto to the Council on the occasion of its 15th Anniversary: "The revolution has not yet succeeded, colleagues must continue to work hard."
The Construction Industry Council and the Hong Kong Green Building Council have jointly published the Hong Kong Report on the State of Sustainable Built Environment 2024 (HK Report 2024). Themed “Innovations towards Net Zero: Building Sustainable and Resilient Urban Environments”, the HK Report 2024 showcases the collective efforts of the Government, industry and academia in navigating the path towards achieving net-zero emissions. In addition to documenting more than 100 major building projects, research and planning, and green building materials and technologies in recent years, the report also features inspiring interviews with five renowned experts and young advocates, including Ir Dr Conrad WONG, BBS, JP, Vice Chairman of Yau Lee Holdings Limited, Prof. Christine LOH, SBS, JP, Chief Development Strategist at the Institute for the Environment of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Prof. Edward NG, Yao Ling Sun Professor of Architecture in the School of Architecture at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Mr Arthur LAM, Co-Founder and CEO of Negawatt Utility Limited, and Ms Natalie CHUNG, member of the Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development, The Government of the HKSAR, who shared valuable insights into the city’s decarbonisation blueprint and strategic planning.
To read these inspiring interviews in full, please download the HK Report 2024: https://bit.ly/4509XDP
The HK Report 2024 showcases the city’s remarkable achievements in green building, resulting from the collaborative efforts of Government, industry experts and academic institutions. The report features innovative elements that explore green building materials and technologies, and includes interviews featuring five renowned experts and young advocates, reflecting Hong Kong's new milestones in the journey towards sustainability.
Join the Fantastic Activities of Hong Kong Green Building Week 2024 - Hop on the Green Building Express towards Carbon Neutrality by 2050!
The annual mega public campaign “Hong Kong Green Building Week” is around the corner!
Hong Kong Green Building Week 2024, co-organised by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC), will be held from 21 to 29 September. With the theme of “Move Forward with Green Building. Next Station: Carbon Neutrality.”, the campaign aims to inspire the public to delve into the realm of innovative green building technologies and foster a deeper appreciation for local green buildings with the idea of "Green Building Express".
To kick-off this year’s campaign, the Biz-Green Dress Day will be held on 5 September (Thursday) to encourage employees to dress up in light yet stylish and professional attire. Participants are invited to adopt a greener and low-carbon workplace and explore how to utilise green building features.
As part of this initiative, we encourage companies and organisations to participate in the “4-Colour Biz-Green Outfits Social Media Challenge” from 22 August to 5 September. This challenge aims to showcase 4-Colour Biz-Green outfits on social media as a way of promoting workplace comfort and helping to reduce air-conditioning energy consumption, thereby collectively contributing towards reducing carbon emissions in our daily lives. Winners of the challenge will be awarded with digital certificates and their photos will be featured in our Biz-Green Dress Day Highlight Video. Join the challenge now and make a significant impact in driving behavioural change! Click HERE for more details.
The Green Building Exploration Fair is one of the key events of the Hong Kong Green Building Week 2024. The Fair will be held in the Event Hall, G/F, Olympian City 2, from 21 to 22 September.
Through activities like Interactive Booths, Expert Talks, and Green Workshops, participants can develop a thorough understanding of the Green Building Life Cycle, learn about innovative green building materials and technologies, as well as the importance and benefits of green building.
The Green Building Exploration Fair and Green Workshops are now open for registration. Don't miss out on these exciting events, click HERE to register now!
To foster public awareness of green buildings in the neighbourhood, we will also be offering a Green Transport X Building Tour on 21 and 22 September. Participants can take a low-carbon and environmentally friendly tram to roam around Hong Kong Island, starting from Sai Wan and heading to Causeway Bay. Led by Green Building Tour Ambassadors, participants will learn about the ten featured green buildings along the way. Register through the online platform "POPTICKET", available on a first-come first-served basis.
Furthermore, the Green Building Express will be touring around Hong Kong Island from 2 to 29 September. Don’t forget to snap a photo of this themed tram and share it on your social media platform for a chance to win a prize in the “Green Building Express Snapshot Challenge”.
Green Building Guided Tour will be led by Green Building Tour Ambassadors on 28 and 29 September to guide participants on tours of various types of green buildings. These tours will allow participants to explore the elements of green building design and the latest technologies in-depth. In addition to the tours, green workshops are available for participants to engage in green living practices and explore green tips for everyday life.
28 September (Saturday)
• Green Building Guided Tour – Health & Well-being @Kwun Tong Sewage Pumping Station (Workshop: Preserved Moss Frame)
• Green Building Guided Tour – Environmental Friendliness @Swire Coca-Cola HK
• Green Building Guided Tour – Innovative Elements @CIC Digital Twin Hub (Workshop: Virtual Green Building)
29 September (Sunday)
• Green Building Guided Tour – Resource Efficiency @ESF Island School (Workshop: Solar-Powered Remote Controlled Electric Car)
Click HERE to sign up for the tours. Act fast, as availability is limited!
For the latest event details, please visit the HKGBW 2024 campaign website and HKGBC's Facebook page.
Simplified Chinese Version of “BEAM Plus Existing Buildings (Global Version)” is Now Available
Following the introduction of Chinese versions of BEAM Plus New Buildings (NB), BEAM Plus New Data Centres (NDC) and BEAM Plus Existing Data Centres (EDC), the Simplified Chinese version of BEAM Plus Existing Buildings (Global Version) is now available.
In view of the growing emphasis on sustainable development in Mainland China and to echo the Government’s policy of enhancing collaboration with the Greater Bay Area, selected BEAM Plus Assessment Tools are gradually being translated into Traditional and Simplified Chinese versions.
A number of Chinese developers and building owners are now using the BEAM Plus Existing Buildings assessment tools to help enhance the operation and maintenance of their properties. With the introduction of the Chinese version of the Global Version, the BEAM Plus tool is expected to be applied even more conveniently by Mainland green building practitioners.
Please click HERE to download the Simplified Chinese version of “BEAM Plus Existing Buildings (Global Version)”.
Simplified Chinese Version of “BEAM Plus Existing Buildings (Global Version)”
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