Green group urges reduction in energy use in city buildings

An influential green group says energy consumption of Hong Kong buildings should be cut by 30 per cent of the 2005 level by 2030.

The Hong Kong Green Building Council, of which Environment Minister Wong Kam-sing was vice-chairman before joining the government, has made 28 suggestions to the government on how this can be achieved.

Council chairman Conrad Wong Tin-cheung said buildings accounted for 90 per cent of power consumption in the city, or 60 per cent of annual carbon emissions.

"If we want to reduce electricity consumption and carbon emissions, it is inevitable that we start with the buildings," he said.

Citing a 2010 report by The Climate Group - an international body with offices in Hong Kong - the council estimates that Hong Kong buildings will consume about 57,600 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity by 2030.

Wong said it was urging a reduction of about 33,420 GWh of consumption - 60 per cent of the projected 2030 level or 30 per cent of the 2005 level.