We are continuously and actively working to improve our environmental performance so that we can reduce our impact on the environment. Our ultimate objective is to provide sustainable public housing. However, we appreciate that this process is a journey and not a destination and so continual improvements are sought and new initiatives are implemented. Some of these initiatives do not have quantified targets because some initiatives are difficult to quantify, or are not yet sufficiently precisely defined to be measurable as Key Performance Indicators (KPI). In addition, we intend to set targets for some initiatives in the near future. Our Initiatives We are taking a far-sighted and systematic approach for strengthening our environmental performance across all our operations and activities over the coming years. This is reflected in the wide range of environmental initiatives that we have planned. Each of our initiatives is guided by the underlying goals laid out in our Environmental Policy. For this reason, in the next table, we indicate the Environmental Policy objective to be addressed by the initiative, along side information on our target, action plan and timeframe for meeting the target. Our initiatives for the coming years are summarised below. Through these planned initiatives, we will focus our efforts in several key areas. We will enhance the living environment of the community by investigating the indoor air quality in commercial and shopping centres reducing noise nuisance from our demolition works increasing our residents' protection against traffic noise minimising the noise generated by building installations improving and controlling the quality of potable water promoting environmentally friendly design and construction To reduce our use of energy and resources, we will incorporate energy saving measures into the design of new domestic blocks replace electronic ballast in car parks and HA Headquarters explore further ways to enhance environmental design of residential buildings reduce water wastage at building, piling and demolition sites adopt water saving fittings reduce water loss due to underground pipe leakage promote environmentally friendly work processes in our offices We will reduce waste production and the environmental impact of our operations by reducing construction and demolition waste assessing the environmental costs and impacts of our building designs increasing recycling and recovery rates adopting environmentally-friendly building materials reducing our use of timber from non-sustainable sources We will strengthen environmental management and our control over contractors by increasing staff training and expertise requiring contractors to submit environmental management plans We will get the community and our staff more involved in environmental protection by enhancing environmental awareness through environmental competitions and campaigns promoting environmentally conscious living in the home enhancing the environmental awareness of our staff Our initiatives are set out in the following table. Environmental Improvement Initiatives Target Environmental Policy Objectives Action Plan Schedule Construction Specify CFC & HCFC free thermal insulation materials to roofs in new development projects To comply with environmental legislation, reduce use of known ozone-depleting chemicals Research & identify sufficient supply in the market Review specification Implement in new building tenders Develop specific targets 2001 - 2002 2001 - 2002 2001 - 2002 2001 - 2002 Improve indoor air quality (IAQ) of new commercial centres with reference to the IAQ Guidance Notes Promote healthy living and green environment Address environmental concerns Study IAQ performance in existing commercial centres Review design and specification with a view to establishing design guidelines for new commercial centres to meet IAQ Level 2 objectives 2001 - 2002 2002 Reduce energy consumption in new domestic blocks Incorporate environmental initiatives in design and estate management activities Promote sustainable development Implement Energy Codes in design of standard domestic blocks Develop a tender evaluation framework to take into account running energy cost for building services installations Study, trial and adopt the use of electronic ballast in new development projects 2001 2001 - 2002 2001 - 2002 Reduce the no. of formal noise complaints registered by EPD in demolition works Minimise environmental impacts Establish database of complaints / prosecutions Reduce no. of formal complains and / or prosecutions registered by either EPD or Police by exploring more extensive use of hydraulic concrete crusher to replace the percussive type concrete breaker 2001 2001 - 2002 Reduce the no. of formal noise complaints registered by EPD in piling works and building works Minimise environmental impacts Research on concreting technologies / review working programme Specification, review and implementation Development of specific targets 2002 2002 2002 - 2003 Improve building design for better protection from traffic noise Address environmental concerns Develop design guide on mitigation measures against traffic noise 2001 Minimise noise generation in new building designs Address environmental concerns Implementation of pump room noise control enhancement measures Trial on two projects using smaller and night-duty water pumps and investigation of the noise reduction effects 2001 2002 Reduce water wastage in building, pilling and demolition works Minimise use of resources Address environmental concerns Review effectiveness of waste management plans implemented since 8/00 on reduction of water wastage Implement water recycling plants / facilities in specified sites Develop specific targets 2001 2002 2002 Specify water saving fittings Develop procurement policies to minimise use of resources and achieve cost effectiveness Reduce resource usage Research on new products (e.g. dual flush w.c. cisterns) Review specification & implementation Develop specific targets 2001 - 2002 2002 2002 Reduce construction and demolition waste Incorporate environmental initiatives in planning, design and construction activities Minimise environmental impacts Complete research on waste management in construction sites Develop and implement specification to reduce construction waste Develop specific targets 2001 2002 2002 Provide purchasers choice of fitting-out Incorporate environmental initiatives in design and construction activities Minimise use of resources Undertake three pilot projects Review at several stages i.e. tender, flat selection and flat intake 2001 - 2002 2002 - 2004 Reduce the use of non-sustainable timber in new buildings Develope procurement polices to minimise use of resources Promote sustainable development Research and consultation 2001 - 2002 Assess life cycle costs and impacts of existing designs Incorporate environmental initiatives in planning, design construction, demolition and management activities Minimise the use of resources and reduce environmental impacts Comission a consultancy study on life cycle costing Review design & specifications 2001 2002 - 2003 Require contractors to submit an environmental management plan where necessary Minimise the use of resources and reduce environmental impacts Research and consultation Review contract conditions and specifications, tendering system, auditing with PASS 2001 - 2002 2001 - 2002 Explore further ways to enhance environmental design of residential buildings Address environmental concerns Map out our implementation plan for HK BEAM assessment Identify non-standard developments for further pilot assessment Research study on micro-climate assessment techniques 2001 2001 2001 - 2002 Estate Management Replacement of electronic ballast Incorporate environmental initiatives in estate management Pilot project in several car parks and HQ building 2001 - 2002 Installation of Desiccant Dehumidification System Incorporate environmental initiatives in estate management Pilot project in Hin Keng Market 2001 - 2002 100% noise measurement and follow-up abatement works for new projects Address environmental concerns, reduce noise nuisance Implement in works programme 2001 Control on quality of potable water in PRH Estates Promote healthy living and green environment Conduct water quality verification tests as a basis for establishing the cleansing cycle Review the current cleansing procedures and establish a biological testing frequency 2001 2001 - 2002 Reduce water loss due to underground pipe leakage Incorporate environmental initiatives in estate management Prepare tender for fault detection at several estates 2001 - 2002 Reduce the no. of complains received by HD on water quality / water wastage / water pollution in PRH estates Address environmental concerns Collect specific data on quarterly basis Develop specific targets 2001 - 2002 Investigate air quality performance and formulate measures to improve air quality in HA's existing shopping centres Address environmental concerns Collect data from 2 - 4 existing shopping centres Analyse data collected Identify causes of shortcomings and formulate measures Recommend improvement solutions 2001 2001 2001 2001 - 2002 Reduce the use of non-sustainable timber in maintenance of existing estates Reduce resource usage Research on reducing use of non-sustainable timber for toilet doors, formwork & joinery items Specification review Implementation in maintenance works 2001 - 2002 2001 - 2002 2001 - 2002 Encourage more environmentally friendly application of materials & technologies Address environmental concerns Review on technical performance & wider use of:   i) silane of waterproofing agents to toliet / balcony floors in domestic units;   ii) spray-applied polyurethane coating over existing roof (overcoat reroofing);   iii) Rehabilitation of underground services utilising trenchless technology 2001 Encourage the use of recycling bins and promote waste recovery and reduction Promote awareness and participation among staff, residents and constractors Launch the Waste Recycling Credit Scheme (Phase 4) at all public rental estates Weigh all waste collected in recycling bins for comparision 2001 Facilitate waste recovery by encouraging separation of recyclable waste Address environmental concerns Place a set of 3 recycle bins at lift lobby on each floor in 2 trial estates 2001 - 2002 Promote public awareness of waste recovery and increase waste recovery rate Promote awareness and participation among residents Launch Green Estate Exchange Square Scheme in 22 estates. Encourage tenants to exchange recyclable waste for souvenirs. 2001 Improve awareness of environmental protection Promote awareness and participation among residents Select 20 households from participants joining the Green Family Competition. Offer overseas visit to Japan for experience sharing to three winning families 2001 Educate tenants to use fewer plastic bags for shoppping Promote awareness and participation among residents Support ECC to promote using fewer plastic bags for shopping in wet markets 2001 - 2002 Encourage wide participation by tenants and staff in green management initiatives Promote awareness and participation among residents and staff Have 50 estates participate in the Green Property Management Award (Public Housing) to be held by Environmental Campaign Committee (ECC), Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and HK Productivity Council 2001 - 2002 Promote recovery of plastic bottles Promote awareness and participation among residents Facilitate contractors with collection Support ECC's Regional Plastic Recyclable Collection Scheme to encourage recovery of plastic bottles 2001 Increase tenants' environmental awareness and support for a green environment Promote awareness and participation among residents Support ECC to invite tenants / EMAC members to be Green Property Management Ambassadors to disseminate green message 2001 - 2002 Home Ownership Promote environmental care awareness in HOS estates Promote awareness among stakeholders To organise the following award schemes for PMAs of HOS estates:   i) Best PMAs award   ii) Environmentally Friendly Award for the Waste Reduction Scheme and the Collection of Recyclable Materials Competition 2001 - 2002 Promote environmentally friendly design in Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) / Private Sector Participation Scheme (PSPS) developments Address environmental concerns Incorporate appropriate clauses into the Conditions of Sale of PSPS sites and revisit the Weighted Scoring System for PSPS tender selection in order to implement the "Green and Innovative Buildings Initiatives" 2001 - 2002 To develop environmentally friendly HOS / PSPS estates Incorporate environmental initiatives in estate management To Implement guidelines on tree planting in HOS development sites To improve hygiene and cleanliness in estates on-going on-going Promote environmentally friendly work processes Reduce resource usage To put HOS sales brochures on-line during the application periods, and achieve a saving of some 76 800 000 pages of paper a year 2001 - 2002 Office Promote green management in offices Promote awareness among staff To organise green management workshops and seminars for 40% of office managers 2001 - 2002 Enhance community awareness in environmental protection and promote water & energy saving in PRH estates Promote awareness and participation among residents Launch competitions on water & energy saving Relay green message in EMAC newsletter Distribute publicity materials such as posters, leaflets and souvenirs to educate residential tenants on environmental issues Launch joint programmes or seminars with EPD, WSD, HK Gas or China Light & Power on water & energy saving subjects 2001 - 2002 on-going on-going 2001 Arouse staff's awareness and concern about the environment and encourage active participation in resolving environmental problems Promote awareness and participation among staff Organise seminars on environmental issues Launch environmental awareness training video Devise quiz game to test staff's knowledge after watching training video Devise idea competition to collect from staff environmental initiatives related to business or office Incorporate environmental objectives and organisational set-up in induction programmes for new recruits 2001 - 2002 2001 2001 2001 2001 - 2002 Facilitate staff to acquire knowledge on how to protect and improve the environment Address environmental concerns and incorporate environmental initiatives Organise courses / seminars on sustainable development 2001 - 2002 Enhance knowledge on tasks and actions required for compliance with environmental legislation Strictly comply with and fully implement measures for complying with all relevant environmental legislation and regulations Organise training course on environmental law 2001 Equip staff with knowledge on tasks and actions required for successful implementation of EMS Review and seek continual improvement on the implementation of an environmental management system Organise training course on EMS implementation Organise training course on EMS internal audit 2001 2001 Back to Top 2001 Housing Authority. 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