Hong Kong’s two power companies launched in June 2014 two energy efficiency funds (EEFs) of HK$100 million in total, i.e. Eco Building Fund of the CLP Power Hong Kong Limited and Smart Power Fund of the Hongkong Electric Company Limited. Both schemes aim to help residential building owners implement energy saving projects for communal areas of residential buildings by providing subsidies on a matching basis. Under the post-2018 Scheme of Control Agreements (SCAs) with the two power companies, existing incentive schemes in relation to promotion of energy efficiency and conservation (EE&C) will be expanded while new elements will be introduced. More funds will be available under the EEFs of the power companies to support the carrying out of retrofitting and retro-commissioning, including the implementation of buildingbased smart/IT technologies to enhance the energy efficiency of a wider coverage of buildings. The power companies will also plough back 65% of the incentives they earned from energy audit and EEFs-related work to further support other EE&C programmes, such as encouraging customers to upgrade their electrical appliances to more energy-efficient models, as well as other programmes to support green building initiatives, the use of renewable energy and disadvantaged groups.
Encouraging Behavioural Change
of three types of products, namely room air conditioners, refrigerating appliances and washing machines, were upgraded in November 2015, bringing about an estimated annual saving of 300 million kWh in electricity consumption. The Government is working to expand the scope of MEELS to cover five more types of electrical products, namely televisions, washing machines (with a washing capacity of 7-10kg), room air conditioners (heating and cooling), electric storage water heaters and induction cookers. The total amount of energy saved from the expanded MEELS is expected to be more than 600 million kWh per annum. Public education and publicity is also important to encourage behavioural change. In May 2017, ENB and EMSD jointly launched the Energy Saving for All 2017 Campaign to foster close partnership in all sectors to promote energy saving. The Campaign comprised the ‘Energy Saving Charter 2017’ under which over 3,300 signatories pledged to adopt behavioural change, and the new ‘4Ts Charter’ which promotes energy saving by following the 4Ts of ‘target’, ‘timeline’, ‘transparency’ and ‘together’, i.e. setting a target with a timeline, ensuring transparency to track the energy saving result, and encouraging people to work together on the energy saving target. Over 1,000 premises have pledged to join the 4Ts Charter. The Campaign also comprised the ‘Energy Saving Championship Scheme 2017’
which aims to give recognition to exemplary organisations with outstanding performance in the application, planning and promotion of energy saving. In Hong Kong, local waste treatment accounts for about 5% of carbon emissions. The Government has pledged to develop a Community Green Station (CGS) in each of the 18 districts to enhance environmental education and to help collect different types of recyclables, especially those of low economic value such as glass beverage bottles and compact fluorescent lamps. Four CGS have been in operation so far and the full CGS network will be in place by 2019.
Introduced through the Energy Efficiency (Labelling of Products) Ordinance, the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MEELS) requires energy labels to be shown on products supplied in Hong Kong to inform consumers of the products’ energy efficiency performance. MEELS currently covers five types of prescribed products, namely room air conditioners (cooling function only), refrigerating appliances, compact fluorescent lamps, washing machines (washing capacity not exceeding 7kg), and dehumidifiers. The scope and grading standards of MEELS are regularly reviewed. The grading standards
HONG KONG REPORT On the State of Sustainable Built Environment 2017
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