Developers asked to divulge stance on energy-efficient appliances
A green group has asked property developers to explain their policy on the energy-efficiency of the appliances they provide in new flats.
Friends of the Earth has written to nine listed developers and the Urban Renewal Authority asking for information on the free appliances they have given flat buyers over the past three years.
The items - mainly air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines - are often built-in at newly completed flats, and are therefore chosen by the developer. Friends of the Earth wants to know whether they are installing the most energy-efficient appliances.
So far, only Sun Hung Kai Properties and the MTR Corporation have promised to reply. If the remainder do not do so by tomorrow, the group will ask flat owners for the information.
Hahn Chu Hon-keung, the group's environmental affairs manager, said flat buyers usually preferred to keep new, but less energy-efficient appliances, even though they meant higher electricity costs.
He said developers had the responsibility of providing energy-efficiency information to buyers.
