Hong Kong building managers urged to publicise updated electricity use data

A green group is calling on property management companies and private buildings to publicise updated information on electricity use online as figures reported in their audits are often outdated and inaccurate.

Friends of the Earth has devised a platform for this as part of a new two-year survey of 1,935 audited buildings.

All buildings are required to report their energy utilisation index (EUI) – an indicator of energy consumption level and energy use intensity – when they apply for mandatory energy auditing. While the audits recommend energy-saving measures, they are usually 10 years apart, meaning publicised data is soon out of date.Edwin Lau Che-feng, the green group’s head of community engagement and partnership, said there was a need to integrate up-to-date EUI data to give residents the “full picture” on the state of city-wide energy use.

With the new platform, data will be plotted on a live map on the group’s website. Colour-coded map markers show a building’s energy performance.

“Buildings would be under pressure to compete … against their neighbours. The figures will provide them with benchmarks,” Lau said.

More than 50 buildings, from shopping malls to skyscrapers, have signed up. The group aims to hit 500 by the end of the year. At least 14 have reached the top “gold” status and achieved more than 6 per cent in reduced energy usage.