Jan-2024

 

As one of the Founding Organisations, the Hong Kong Green Building Council was delighted to attend the Inauguration Ceremony of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Building Technology Alliance on 6-7 January 2024. The Ceremony was followed by the first Greater Bay Area Architectural Science Conference, which took place at the Baiyun International Convention Centre in Guangzhou with 400 participants.

Led by the Guangdong Provincial Academy of Building Research Group, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Building Technology Alliance was formed through the collaboration of 44 institutions from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. It is a non-profit organisation with the principal objective of establishing an open, innovative and collaborative platform for research and co-operation in architectural technology within the Greater Bay Area, while also promoting high-quality development in the construction industry.

During the conference, distinguished academicians and industry experts delivered speeches on a variety of topics, including collaborative standards in the Greater Bay Area, urban safety, green and low-carbon construction, intelligent building, and digital transformation.

The Council looks forward to extensive collaboration across the Greater Bay Area to promote green building and BEAM Plus.
 

Ir Harry LAI, BBS, Deputy Executive Director of the Hong Kong Green Building Council (3rd left), together with representatives of the Council and BEAM Society Limited, attended the Inauguration Ceremony of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Building Technology Alliance and engaged with representative from the Guangdong Provincial Academy of Building Research Group.

 
 

 

To drive the rapid transition towards a low-carbon future in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) has launched the highly anticipated second version of its HKGBC Retrofitting Guidebook. Following the success of the first edition, this updated guidebook has been meticulously developed to align with the evolving landscape of green building practices. By sharing valuable case studies and practical insights, the guidebook aims to expedite the transformation of Hong Kong's built environment and promote sustainable practices and standards that extend beyond its borders.

Encouraging Energy Efficiency and Retrofitting Measures

The primary objective of the HKGBC Retrofitting Guidebook is to encourage and support the implementation of retrofitting measures, with a particular emphasis on enhancing energy efficiency in existing buildings. Serving as an indispensable resource, the guidebook offers a comprehensive range of retrofitting options, considerations, case studies, and additional resources, including information on available funding sources. Through these valuable resources, building owners are empowered to undertake successful retrofitting projects and contribute to a greener future.

The updated version of the HKGBC Retrofitting Guidebook incorporates new perspectives on kitchen retrofitting, architectural design, and rating of retrofitting initiatives in addition to the 10 featured themes from the first version. By integrating the latest best practices and technological advancements, the guidebook provides a more comprehensive and holistic approach to retrofitting practices in the industry. This ensures that professionals have access to the most up-to-date information and strategies to drive sustainable transformations in their buildings.

The updated guidebook includes a dedicated chapter on retrofitting commercial kitchens, which emphasises reducing energy consumption through low-carbon operations, and improving air quality and the working environment. The importance of innovative building envelope designs is also highlighted, as they minimise heat ingress and infiltration, resulting in reduced cooling loads on the air-conditioning system. The chapter on the rating of initiatives further provides visualisations of past retrofitting strategies' performance, serving as a valuable reference for industry professionals.

The HKGBC Retrofitting Guidebook Version Two is now available for download on the HKGBC website. Building owners, industry professionals, and stakeholders are encouraged to access this valuable resource and explore the innovative retrofitting strategies it presents. To access the guidebook, please visit the HKGBC website or scan the provided QR code.
 

To further enhance knowledge sharing and engagement, HKGBC will soon be hosting webinars that offer in-depth insights and practical guidance related to the Guidebook, providing an opportunity for professionals to delve deeper into sustainable retrofitting practices. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements on the HKGBC website.

 
 

 

Co-organised by the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) and BEAM Society Limited (BSL), the BEAM Plus Certificate Presentation Ceremony 2023 was held successfully in December 2023. The event celebrated the achievement of 188 outstanding BEAM Plus certified projects. The interior fit-out assessment tool, known as BEAM Plus Interiors (BI), underwent a major revision and was officially launched in late November 2023. Five projects have since achieved the Final Platinum Rating under BEAM Plus Interiors V2.0 (Beta Version).

Fitting-out Works for the Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development Office at 9/F Yasumoto International Academic Park, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

One of the highlighted projects was the fitting-out works on the 9th floor of Yasumoto International Academic Park at CUHK. This project achieved a Final Platinum rating under BEAM Plus Interiors V2.0 (Beta Version). Being the first campus smart office at CUHK, this project transformed two separate office units into a single, flexible open-plan workspace. Upholding the principle of sustainability, the office design has carefully considered the use of materials and the reuse of furniture and appliances to minimise wastage and lower carbon emissions. Painted with the colour palette of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the newly renovated space provides a brand new working environment for over 30 members of staff in the Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development Office (SRSDO).

Get Your Home Green-certified 

In addition to non-residential projects, BEAM Plus Interiors for Residential Units introduces the first-ever green assessment tool specifically designed for domestic spaces. One of the main focuses of the new version is health and wellbeing. Residential premises are assessed with a simple and user-friendly checklist, making it accessible for everyone in the community to evaluate their own spaces. This approach aims to encourage public participation in promoting a sustainable built environment.

For more details of "BEAM Plus Interiors", please visit: https://hkgbc.org.hk/eng/beam-plus/beam-plus-interiors/index.jsp 

Officiating guests took group photos with Directors of the HKGBC and BSL, the Green Labelling Committee of the HKGBC and the Marketing Committee of BSL.

 
The interior fit-out assessment tool, known as BEAM Plus Interiors (BI), underwent a major revision and was officially launched in late November 2023. 5 projects achieved the Final Platinum Rating under BEAM Plus Interiors V2.0 (Beta Version).

 
Fitting Out Works for Social Responsibility and Sustainable Development Office at 9/F Yasumoto International Academic Park, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, has achieved a Final Platinum Rating under BEAM Plus Interiors V2.0 (Beta Version).

 
 

 

The Hong Kong Green Building Council has launched a "BEAM Plus Green Commercial Office Buildings Directory", which enables tenants to search for environmentally friendly offices in Hong Kong through an easy-to-use tool. The directory allows users to search for green office buildings based on various criteria. To find the most desirable subset of properties, tenants can also filter the results according to different needs, such as the size of the development, the desired BEAM Plus rating, the district, and the developer's name.

The directory is designed to facilitate easy navigation and provide comprehensive details where available.  A full listing in the directory includes a photo of the building, along with essential information such as the building name, address, number of blocks and storeys.  Additionally, a brief description of the building's green features is provided, allowing tenants to quickly understand its sustainability attributes.

To access the "BEAM Plus Green Commercial Office Buildings Directory", please visit: https://www.hkgbc.org.hk/eng/beam-plus/beam-plus-dir-stat/BEAMPlusOffice/commercial-office.jsp 
 

 

 

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