ENG-2011 — Page 334

290 The Environment

The initial phase of the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MEELS) came into full implementation on November 9, 2009. Under this, energy labels are required to be shown on prescribed products for supply in Hong Kong to inform consumers of their energy efficiency performance. Three types of prescribed products. covered in the initial phase of MEELS are room air-conditioners, refrigerating appliances and compact fluorescent lamps. The second phase of the MEELS extends the coverage to two more electrical appliances: washing machines and dehumidifiers. The second phase was also fully implemented from September 19,

2011.

As buildings account for about 89 per cent of electricity consumed, promoting their efficient use of energy is instrumental in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To improve further energy efficiency in new and existing buildings, the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance was enacted in November 2010 for mandatory implementation of the Building Energy Codes. The ordinance will commence full operation by September 2012. Since the enactment of the subsidiary legislation in March 2011, eligible persons are being encouraged to be registered as Registered Energy Assessors to undertake duties under the ordinance.

To promote adoption of energy-efficient air-conditioning systems, the Government is implementing a district cooling system (DCS) at the Kai Tak Development (KTD). The DCS will provide chilled water to

chilled water to non-domestic developments for air-conditioning. It is an energy-efficient system which consumes 35 per cent less electricity compared with traditional air-cooled air-conditioning systems.

The DCS will be developed and commissioned for operation in three phases to suit the development schedule of the KTD. The Phase I and Phase II works are under construction for provision of DCS to the first package consumers by the end of 2012. The Phase III works are in the planning stage.

The Government recognises the importance of promoting the use of renewable energy. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's two power companies are making progress in their attempts to use clean energy to produce electricity. Hongkong Electric Company Limited (HEC) started operating its wind turbine on Lamma Island in 2006. CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP Power) commissioned its commercial scale photovoltaic (PV) system on Town Island in Sai Kung in 2009. HEC completed its first-stage thin film photovoltaic (THPV) system at Lamma Power Station in 2010 and the system extension will be completed in 2012. Both companies are planning the development of off-shore commercial wind farms in Hong Kong waters and have respectively proceeded with preparation work for collecting technical data on-site as well as feasibility studies for their offshore wind farm projects.

Legislation and Pollution Control

Hong Kong has ten ordinances on pollution control. These are the Waste Disposal Ordinance, the Water Pollution Control Ordinance, the Air Pollution Control Ordinance, the Noise Control Ordinance, the Ozone Layer Protection Ordinance, the Dumping at Sea Ordinance, the Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, the