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Following is a question by the Hon Joseph Lee and a written reply by the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Edward Yau, in the Legislative Council today (April 9):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council of:
(a) the electricity consumption and the expenditure on electricity of various government departments in the past three years; and
(b) the current situation and effectiveness of the utilisation of renewable energy by various government departments, and whether it will consider adopting other energy and new measures to save energy?
Reply
Madam President,
(a) The Government has been making adjustments with regard to the facilities and services it provides in accordance with the needs of the public and development of the society. Over the past three years, a number of public facilities have entered into services, including six libraries, one public swimming pool and five sports centres, etc. Furthermore, the usage and opening hours of these public facilities have also increased steadily. All these have contributed to the increase in the overall electricity consumption of the Government. Nevertheless, to enable an objective comparison on electricity conservation, it is necessary to adopt the same operational parameters as the basis.
According to the information provided by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, the overall electricity consumption of the Government is on a downward trend using the operational parameters of 2002-03 as the comparison basis.
Year Total electricity Total normalised
consumption electricity
consumption (using
the operational
parameters of
2002-03 as the
comparison basis)
2004-05 2,380 million kWh 2,190 million kWh
2005-06 2,420 million kWh 2,150 million kWh
2006-07 2,510 million kWh 2,120 million kWh
Using the operational conditions of 2002-03 as the comparison basis, with the concerted efforts of bureaux and departments, the total normalised electricity consumption of the Government in 2006-07 has reduced by around 7% as compared with 2002-03. This reduction is made possible through the implementation of housekeeping measures on energy conservation and the carrying out of energy saving projects by bureaux and departments. For instance, reducing and switching off unnecessary electrical appliances and lightings, promoting dressing down at workplace and raising the air-conditioned room temperature to 25.5?C during summer months, installing energy efficient lighting devices, and replacing air-cooled air-conditioning systems with water-cooled air-conditioning systems, etc.
The total electricity expenditure of the Government from 2004-05 to 2006-07 is $2,140 million, $2,180 million and $2,260 million respectively.
(b) The Government is committed to carrying out research on and promoting renewable energy applications in Hong Kong. We also actively promote the various measures on energy efficiency and conservation. The Government will set a good example and take the lead in doing a satisfactory job in this respect. For example, the Government issued a works technical circular in end 2005 setting out the requirements for adopting energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in new projects and installations of the Government. In this regard, the works departments have adopted various energy efficiency devices, and are actively looking for renewable energy systems that are fit for installation.
Over the past three years, the Government installed photovoltaic panels at Electrical and Mechanical Services Department Headquarters, Pennyˇ¦s Bay Fire Station cum Ambulance Depot, Pennyˇ¦s Bay Police Post, Princess Margaret Hospital, Pak Kong Water Treatment Works, Airport Police Station, Government Flying Service Headquarters, Kowloon Hospital Rehabilitation Block and Hong Kong Science Museum; solar water heating systems at Electrical and Mechanical Services Department Headquarters, Kingˇ¦s College, Pak Sha Wan Correctional Institution and Government House; and bio-gas generating system at Shek Wu Hui Sewage Treatment Works. Due to the satisfactory results, the Government will consider installing in 2008 photovoltaic panels at Chek Lap Kok Fire Station, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, Hong Kong Museum of Costal Defence and Hong Kong Museum of Art; and solar park lighting devices at Tuen Mun Town Hall, Hong Kong Park, Kowloon Park and Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade; to further promote renewable energy facilities. We will continue to actively promote energy conservation within the Government and consider the possibility of adopting other clean energy sources in Hong Kong.
Ends/Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:31
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