ENG-2017 — Page 302

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The Environment

provides chilled water to buildings including the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and Trade and Industry Tower. Upon full completion, the system would consume 35 per cent less electricity than traditional air-cooled air-conditioning systems. The government will consider implementing district cooling systems in other New Development Areas and Redevelopment Areas.

Promotion of Renewable Energy

The Paris Agreement highlights the need for wider promotion of renewable energy. The government has set a target for providing renewable energy in new schools, educational buildings, open space and public parks. For existing government buildings undergoing major renovation works, renewable energy technologies must be incorporated where technically and financially practicable. A sum of $200 million has been set aside for bureaus and departments to provide renewable energy installations at government premises and infrastructure.

The two power companies have an important role to play in promoting the adoption of renewable energy. HK Electric operates an 800kW wind turbine on Lamma and a 1MW thin film photovoltaic system at Lamma Power Station, while CLP Power runs a 200kW renewable energy generation system of solar panels and wind turbines on Town Island in Sai Kung. New measures introduced in the post-2018 Scheme of Control Agreements, such as a Feed-in Tariff Scheme, aim to encourage both companies to step up their renewable energy efforts.

Energy-efficient Buildings

Buildings account for about 90 per cent of the electricity consumed, so promoting their efficient use of energy is of paramount importance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Building Energy Code under the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance stipulates the minimum energy efficiency standards for major installations, including air conditioning, electrical installations, lighting, lifts and escalators. Commercial buildings are required to conduct energy audits every 10 years. Energy savings from all new buildings are expected to total about 5 billion kWh by 2025.

The government is taking the lead to save energy in buildings. It is working to save 5 per cent of electricity use in government buildings from 2015-16 to 2019-20 under operating conditions comparable to 2013-14. To achieve this target, energy audits for about 350 major government buildings have been completed, and at least $600 million earmarked to implement energy- saving projects identified in the audits.

Retro-commissioning is a cost-effective and useful means of saving energy in existing buildings. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department published technical guidelines in June and organised seminars to help building owners and relevant trades carry out retro-commissioning.

Under the post-2018 agreements, the power companies will further promote energy efficiency and conservation via measures including introducing new energy-saving funds and expanding existing energy-efficiency funds and energy-saving loan funds.

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