An evaluation of the feasibility of implementing energy efficiency measures in commercial buildings in Hong Kong

Abstract

In 2006, over 160 countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which is an international agreement concerning the climate change. It sets binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions (UNFCCC, 2006) and these countries were committed to do so. Reduction on GNG emission becomes a common but differentiated responsibility over these countries, including China and Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“HKSAR”) was also committed to reduce GHG emissions by implementing difference measures (EPD, 2010). In view of 60 percent of GHG emission in Hong Kong is generated by electricity generation, reduction on electricity consumption for building operations is the main means of achieving reduction on GHG emissions. Since Hong Kong had been treated as international financial centre, over 60 percent of the total electricity consumption was contributed by the commercial sector.

To promote energy efficiency so as to accomplish reduction on electricity consumption, both HKSAR and other green organization, such as BEAM Society and U.S. Green Building Council, had set up numerous reference guidelines. However, these guidelines may applicable to new buildings but not in most commercial building in Hong Kong which were aged and multi-owned.

In these aged and multi-owned commercial building, the concern of energy efficiency was not involved during design stage. In view of durable nature of commercial building, energy efficiency hardly be achieved unless substantial implementation of measures. However, capital cost and alteration work were needed to be considered for such implementation which causing difficulties for most of the single block building.

As advised by Electrical and Mechanical Department, the Building Manager is one of the key persons in building energy efficiency and conservation as it is the one who operate all building services installation so as to suit the needs of the occupants. This dissertation is an attempt to evaluate the feasibility of implementing energy efficiency measures in these commercial buildings in Hong Kong from the management point of view.