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ISO 50001 Certificate for DCD
ISO 50001 Certificate for EMD
Since December 2011, we have established and implemented an EnMS in accordance with the ISO 50001 standard on our residential building design. Through the implementation of the EnMS, a baseline and an Energy Performance Indicator (EnPI) for energy consumption of building services installed in the communal areas of the public housing blocks were initially set at 30kWh/m² annually, and applied to all our new projects for comparison, and for design adjustment to achieve the target performance if necessary. This EnPI was tightened from 27 kWh/m² to 24 kWh/m² in 2016 and reduced to 23.5 kWh/m² in 2020 to further enhance the energy performance of our designs.
The ISO 50001 EnMS was built on a Plan-Do-Check-Act management model which focused on energy efficiency, use and consumption in communal building services installations of domestic public housing blocks. In June 2012, we obtained the ISO 50001:2011 certification on residential building design. With the promulgation of the 2018 edition of ISO 50001 in August 2018, we successfully transited to ISO 50001:2018 in August 2020.
For the existing estates, Kwai Shing West Estate was the first residential estate and the first public rental housing (PRH) estate in Hong Kong granted with ISO 50001 certification in June 2013. With the successful experiences gained at Kwai Shing West Estate, we extended the certification to cover all existing PRH domestic blocks by April 2015 in two phases.
The Phase One certification covering the domestic blocks in 92 PRH estates was obtained in August 2014 and the Phase Two extended certification to cover the domestic blocks in all existing estates has been obtained in April 2015. With the promulgation of the 2018 edition of ISO 50001 in August 2018, we successfully transited to ISO 50001:2018 in June 2020.
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In response to the requirements laid down in the Design Manual: Barrier Free Access 2008 promulgated by the Building Department, the illumination standard of public areas has been significantly increased to cater for the needs of persons with special needs such as those having impaired vision. To achieve the new illumination standard for domestic blocks without undue increase on energy consumption, a two level lighting control system has been adopted in new design for domestic blocks since December 2008. This system enables users raising the lighting level when needed. The illumination levels for public areas are as follows:
Normal Mode
Triggered Mode
for typical lobby
50 lux
85 lux
for typical corridor
30 lux
85 lux
for staircase
30 lux
85 lux
for ground floor lift lobby
120 lux
NA
for lift car
150 lux
NA
Raise the lighting level of public areas
Raise the lighting level of public areas
Raise the lighting level of public areas
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The lighting, electrical, air-conditioning and lift & escalator of new buildings have been adopting the design in compliance with the requirements of Building Energy Codes issued by EMSD. Since August 2015, HA have received 176 Certificates of Compliance Registration under the Building Energy Efficiency Ordinance from EMSD.
'Hong Kong Energy Efficiency Registration Scheme' Energy Certificates
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Photocell sensor controls for lights
Photocell sensor controls for lights are installed in areas with natural light, such as areas near the windows in communal areas, to switch off some lights to save energy when the illumination level is adequate.
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For fluorescent type lighting fittings, about 20% of electrical energy could be saved if electronic ballast is used instead of electromagnetic ballast. In view of this, since 2003, we have widely adopted the use of electronic ballast. At present, all fluorescent type lighting fittings are equipped with electronic ballasts.
Starting from 2012/13, we have launched a 42-month programme of replacing existing light fittings equipped with electromagnetic ballast by energy-saving electronic ballast in communal areas of all our existing estates, covering around 960 domestic blocks. The replacement work for all 960 domestic blocks have been completed in September 2015.
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Since early 2016, we have adopted LED bulkheads as standard luminaires for communal areas of domestic blocks in all new works projects under planning or design. Starting from 2019/20, LED bulkheads have been adopted in communal areas of existing PRH blocks during the breakdown maintenance. In addition, LED Exit Signs and Directional Signs have been adopted in new developments tendered out in or after 2019.
LED bulkheads
LED Exit Sign
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We have adopted variable speed drive control for the fresh water booster pumping system in all new projects. The system has been used together with smaller stainless steel pneumatic pressure vessels and stamped stainless steel multi-stage pumps to achieve higher energy efficiency and occupy lesser plant room space.
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Hybrid Ventilation / Free Cooling System has been introduced at some new shopping centres. Combining the use of natural ventilation, air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation system as well as switching between operation modes to suit users' needs, the new system can reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions from the air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation system. The system could be adopted in appropriate projects in accordance with relevant guidelines.
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In the PRH development at Kai Ching Estate and Tak Long Estate, we have adopted the centralised and energy-efficient chilled water supply system, the District Cooling System (DCS), implemented by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to provide chilled water through underground chilled water pipe network to the air-conditioning systems of the non-domestic facilities including shops, kindergarten and estate management offices. Compared with the conventional air-cooled chiller system, the DCS is able to save energy up to 35%.
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We have adopted a number of energy-saving technologies and initiatives for lift installations. These include the use of permanent magnet synchronous motor machines in lift installations, the provision of regenerative power for lift motors of 8 kW or above and the use of gearless type lift drives to reduce energy consumption. In addition, to save space, more compact and less heavy lifts without machine rooms have been provided for lift towers and low-rise buildings.
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We have adopted Smart Meter Monitoring and Energy Information Display System in the ground floor lobbies of the domestic blocks in new estates. The system displays electricity, gas and water consumption data on a regular basis. The system facilitates comparison of energy consumption among blocks of the same estate with a view to raising the awareness of residents to save energy.
Smart Meter
Smart Meter
Smart Meter
Display of the smart meter monitoring system at ground floor lobby of Tak Long Estate
Display of the smart meter monitoring system at ground floor lobby of Tak Long Estate
Display of the smart meter monitoring system at ground floor lobby of Tak Long Estate
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In order to reduce carbon emission, and align with the Government's policy, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has integrated various renewable energy applications into the design of public housing estates since 2003. These include grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems, building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), etc.
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A pilot grid-connected mono-crystalline silicon PV system at Lam Tin Estate has been in operation since August 2009. It could feed in certain amount of renewable electricity to the electricity grid.
In view of the satisfactory performance of the pilot PV system, the HA decided in 2011 to implement grid-connected PV system in all new public rental housing developments to feed in renewable electricity equivalent to about 1.5% to 2.5% of the electricity demand of the building communal area of each domestic block to the electricity grid as far as practicable. Meanwhile, we will continue the search and piloting of other renewable energy technologies for application in public rental housing estates.
Grid-connected photovoltaic systems
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