The HA is keen on adopting various saving-energy strategies. In June 2019, we have renewed the ISO 50001 Energy Management System (EnMS) for all existing PRH estates. Moreover, the seventh Carbon Audit Report for 14 typical block types was completed in November 2019, it helped us to identify measures for energy reduction when the building carbon emission is found exceeding the 2011/12 baseline figure. Due to the effective implementation of the EnMS, the electricity consumption in existing estates’ communal areas has maintained at 50.5 kWh per flat per month in the year.
Decreased by 20% against 2011/12 on average
To support the Government’s policy on promoting the use of electric vehicle (EV), the HA continued to work with power companies to install EV charging facilities at hourly car parking spaces of HA’s existing carparks. A total of 29 quick and medium EV chargers have been installed in 7 HA’s carparks. As at the end of the reporting year, we have provided standard EV chargers at about 40 monthly parking spaces in 12 existing carparks.
In accordance with the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines, we have also provided standard EV chargers at about 210 hourly and 790 monthly private car parking spaces in some 30 new public housing estates. To encourage wider use of EVs, we offer two hours free parking for the EV users while they are charging at HA’s hourly parking spaces.
To promote the importance of waste separation at source, we have implemented the Source Separation of Domestic Waste Programme in all estates. We also set up collection points for collecting domestic recyclables from tenants with incentives such as cash or household sundries to attract more people to participate.
We continue to raise the awareness of the PRH tenants on the Government proposed municipal solid waste (MSW) charging by issuing newsletters, organising different functions like partnering functions of Estate Management Advisory Committee (EMAC), etc.
Meanwhile, our shopping centres/markets continued to participate in the Government’s two-year trial on Food Waste Collection Pilot Scheme. The food waste collected are transported to the Organic Resources Recovery Centre in Siu Ho Wan for off-site recycling. In addition, tenants of restaurants, supermarkets and market stalls were also encouraged to join the food donation schemes organised by various NGOs to reallocate the food to the people in need.
Through our prolonged effort in encouraging waste reduction and recycling, average domestic waste production of our residents was reduced to 0.59 kg/person/day, and a considerable amount of recyclables have been received this year.
Waste reduction mascots Waste Reduction Honey Bee and Slim Garbage Bin showed up in a community event at Lok Fu Estate to promote waste reduction among the residents
Food waste was collected from stalls at the Ching Long wet market
29,908tonnes of paper recycled
2,130tonnes of aluminium cans recycled
2,282tonnes of plastic bottles recycled
949tonnes of used clothes recycled
The HA recognises the importance of water conservation. As such, we implemented different initiatives to promote water saving in our managed commercial properties. For example, we introduced a reclaimed air-conditioning condensate water recovery system in Domain to filter and reuse condensate water for irrigating landscape.
In order to promote greening in PRH estates, we organised tree planting activities in 10 estates and carried out landscape improvement works in 20 estates to introduce plants which are suitable for the local landscape and conditions. Green roofs and auto-adjusting irrigation systems have also been retrofitted in some existing estates.
Landscape improvement project at Wo Che Estate
Landscape improvement project at Wu King Estate
We continue to maintain and enhance the Enterprise Tree Management System (ETrMS) which incorporated the use of mobile device, WEB, RFID, GPS and GIS technologies. The ETrMS allows us to monitor the tree management work, conduct risk assessment, and identify the need of remedial work immediately. To date, approximately 94,000 trees have been managed under the ETrMS.
To provide our Estate Tree Ambassadors (ETAs) with basic knowledge on identifying suspected problematic trees within the estates, two refresher and training courses were organised for ETAs during the year.
ETrMS as a computerised database for effective tree management
ETrMS as a computerised database for effective tree management
Asbestos could be found in some of our old estates. However, little to no threats will be posed to human health when the substance is left intact and undisturbed. We have implemented asbestos abatement programme to promulgate publicity of locations and proper handling of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) by distributing pamphlets and letter to individual domestic tenants concerned, updating ACM record in HA/HD website, and labelling all ACM. In addition, we also enhanced regular monitoring system on ACM including half-yearly condition survey at common areas and annual in-flat condition survey by HD staff, biennial condition survey by Registered Asbestos Consultant, and arrange repair and follow up actions.
We continue our effort in raising environmental awareness among PRH residents through organising various programmes including “Green Delight in Estates” (GDE) programme, “Let's Join Hand to Reduce Waste in Our Estates”, Mooncake Box Recycling Programme, and the Chinese New Year Citrus Plants Replanting Scheme, etc.
In 2019, GDE Phase 12, which was a two-year programme, has been commenced with the theme of “Waste Reduction and Recycling”, echoing the Government’s waste management policy. It covered 40 estates in 2019, and 2,400 residents and students were recruited as Green Estate Ambassadors to share sustainable green living style to other residents in PRH estates.
For more details on waste reduction campaigns organised at the HA’s estates and commercial properties, refer to Case Study: Waste Reduction Campaigns at HA’s Estates and Commercial Properties under the chapter of Social Performance.
We continued to organise tree planting days and developed community gardens in our housing estates. During the year, we have selected 10 PRH estates to implement these initiatives to promote tenants’ environmental awareness and sense of belonging.
In our retail facilities, we continued to join the Energy Saving Charter for 11 of our shopping centres and the Charter on External Lighting for 10 of our shopping centres. We also joined the Hong Kong Green Shop Alliance for 20 HA’s shopping centres/estates, so as to encourage shop tenants to adopt green measures in daily operations.
Tree Planting Day at Kwai Chung Estate
Tree Planting Day at Shek Wai Kok Estate
Harvesting Day at Hing Man Estate
Harvesting Day at Hing Man Estate
