Hong Kong should make landlords explain, fix rising energy use and not just report it, NGO says
The Green Earth says no follow-up exists in mandatory auditing of energy efficiency in commercial buildings
The Hong Kong government should require landlords to act on recommendations for improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings and explain any increase in power consumption, a green group has said.
Under the current system, landlords are only required to conduct an energy audit every decade and suggest ways to improve efficiency, but the law does not mandate they take action on those findings.
The Green Earth found almost 20 per cent of buildings that had logged changes to power use had higher levels in the latest audit compared with a decade ago, although some said they had simply changed their calculation methods.
Thomas Chan Ting-hin, an environmental affairs officer at the green group, said authorities needed to take action.
“The properties are now essentially allowed to use more energy because all they need to do is to submit the energy audit reports, they are not subject to any form of regulation in terms of their energy consumption,” Chan said.
“Even though energy management opportunities are identified in the energy audit reports, the properties are not mandated to implement those measures at all.”
The government’s policy address last Wednesday said a proposal to amend the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance would be put to the legislature by the end of the year.
