China announced that it aims to become carbon neutral (whatever that means) by 2060, will that new target have any impact on Hong Kong or the government energy reduction targets?
Counting the whole, I will predict the local impact in Hong Kong will be minimal, as I have said “Neutral” in reality requires over production, for China that means over production at scale, China has the space and political will for the carbon emissions aggregated to achieve its new target.
The latest version of the EMSD Building Energy Code (BEC) 2018 became effective in May 2019 for construction submissions.
For a comparison between the BEC 2015 and 2018 versions check out this article http://www.kelcroft.com.hk/energy-rea-bec-2015vs2018.htm
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To build in Hong Kong you will need to follow the traditional BD submission format, and also fulfil the mandatory requirements detail in the Building Energy Code. How does that impact the construction process?
The Owner must engage a EMSD Registered Energy Assessor (REA) to complete and issue EMSD Form EE1 also known as Stage 1 Certificate of Compliance Registration (COCR), and also EMSD form EE2 known as Stage 2 COCR.
Stage 1 COCR must be submitted within two months after obtaining BD consent. For Stage 2 COCR, that must be submitted within four months after obtaining BD Occupation permit.
further details are provided on the EMSD website.
by John Herbert
Part of the energy audit process should be to review the condition of the plant, and equipment, generally if problems are discovered these can be categorized as deferred maintenance.
Here an example, an 800 mm axial fan, and a key part of the extract system providing mechanical ventilation. The photograph of the suction side clearly shows the flexible connection is ripped, and the discharge side was similarly damaged.
The extract fan was operating, still moving air, and consuming amperes, but the ‘system’ was not functioning. The failure points occurred at the highest pressure (discharge side) and lowest pressure (suction side) regions, that means little air movement could occur inside the ductwork.
Now explain to the management why they paid for electricity for the whole of last year, but no mechanical ventilation was provided.
For an energy audit, that complies with EMSD Energy Audit Code, call the energyLAB experts today!
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Hong Kong has launched its first, energy conservation strategy (LINK) primarily containing lists of Government achievements (earlier hint).
But wait, it is more than the usual self congratulatory tome, note it has highlighted the specific occasions when energy policy can be improved over the next few years. Read page 68 – Figure 33 is titled ‘Timeline of regulatory tools reviews on energy reduction’ that tells the story in my view it is an invitation to drive policy changes.
Whilst the 40% reduction sounds like an ambitious number (it is based on energy intensity) framed as absolute energy consumption the reduction amounts to approx. 6% reduction.
I have read the blueprint, the whole document, how Government intends to achieve this target is not mentioned just yet, it is not a roadmap, just a broad plan. So it is inevitable that building owners will be the first to feel the pressure to tackle energy efficiency. Failing to tackle this cornerstone issue early is likely to cause some red faces in the sector.