(HK) Council for Sustainable Development launches public engagement on energy saving and carbon emission reduction in buildings
Aug. 31st, 2011
The following is issued on behalf of the Council for Sustainable Development:
The Council for Sustainable Development (the Council) today (August 5) launched a public engagement process entitled “Combating Climate Change : Energy Saving and Carbon Emission Reduction in Buildings” to encourage stakeholders and the general public to actively participate in the discussions on the concerns, incentives and possible action plans for the demand-side management in electricity consumption, with a view to further promoting energy saving and energy efficiency in buildings. It would in turn lead to reduction in greenhouse gases emission and contribute to combating climate change.
Mr Bernard Chan, the Chairman of the Council, highlighted that with some 90 percent of Hong Kong’s electricity being consumed in buildings which accounts for about 60 percent of the territory’s greenhouse gases emission, it is vital to engage the whole community in efforts to maximise building energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Mr Chan stressed that, while climate change and its related issues may be too broad and some maybe too abstract to comprehend by members of the public, relating the topic with energy efficiency, energy and cost saving would help lay down the context for solid actions and implementation.
“The Council recognised that the management and efficient use of energy in buildings is an important area for combating climate change. Hence the Council proposed to focus on four core building user groups, including household, office, retail and catering,” said Mr Chan.
The Invitation for Response (IR) Document issued today provided information on existing measures to promote building energy efficiency, as well as identified possible areas for further enhancement. The IR Document would form a discussion framework for the public engagement process. The discussion areas could be broadly categorised into two general directions:
- Systemic Enhancement: Discussions will be framed to look at the potential tightening, expansion and review of regulatory measures, as well as to consider providing recognition for buildings that achieve high energy efficiency; and
- Facilitation of Behaviour Change: Views will be garnered on further adoption of energy/carbon audit, enhanced use of energy efficiency management systems, promotion of energy-efficient appliances in various trades, and possible review of the electricity tariff structure.
The Council will organize five regional forums to engage the community and stakeholders to share their views and comments. In addition, more than 60 supporting organizations, including tertiary institutes, public authorities, research institutions, think tanks, green groups, non-governmental organizations (NGO), chambers of commerce and professional organisations, have been engaged to help disseminate information about this public engagement exercise. To widen and deepen the general awareness of the public about the importance of combating climate change, public awareness and education programmes are conducted in parallel with collaborating schools and NGOs.
The IR Document can be downloaded from the Council’s dedicated website (www.susdev.org.hk), and is available at public libraries and District Offices. Members of the public are encouraged to send views to the Council Secretariat (Email: [email protected]; Mail: Sustainable Development Division, Environment Bureau, M/F, Murray Building, Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong). The public engagement process will run for four months until December 4,2011.
(From the official website of HK Council for Sustainable Development http://www.susdev.org.hk/en/whatsnew20110804.aspx)
