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The Environment Bureau and the Council for Sustainable Development (SDC) jointly held the "Publicity Event on Community-wide Participation in Energy Saving" today (June 7) to promote a community-wide energy saving campaign.
The Chairman of the SDC, Mr Bernard Chan, said, "The summer is just around the corner, meaning that electricity consumption is reaching its peak period. The Environment Bureau and the SDC have joined hands in organising the 'Publicity Event on Community-wide Participation in Energy Saving' with a view to raising different sectors' awareness of energy saving and encouraging the public to work together in saving energy."
He said that climate change is an enormous challenge worldwide. "We rely on energy for economic development and improving living quality. However, as the earth's resources are limited, we should learn to make good use of them. Wasting energy poses a heavy burden on the environment and as such, tackling climate change is key to the sustainable development of society. Saving energy is the most effective way for Hong Kong as a well-developed, services-oriented city to combat climate change."
In this light, the SDC completed the public engagement on "Combating Climate Change: Energy Saving and Carbon Emission Reduction in Buildings" last year, which focused on promoting demand-side management in electricity consumption across the community.
The Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Ms Anissa Wong, said, "Today's publicity event carries an important meaning. In order to encourage the community to save energy and reduce carbon emissions, we will promote an energy saving campaign involving different sectors. For this purpose, we have designed a brand new energy saving logo and tagline: 'Energy Saving Begins with Us'. We will invite various stakeholders, including the commercial sector, the two power companies, Government departments, district councils, and schools, to organise different activities under the theme of community-wide participation in energy saving.
"We will make use of the Energy Saving Charter as the starting point for promoting the community-wide energy saving campaign. We are pleased to have enlisted the support of 16 developers and property management companies in pledging to maintain an average indoor temperature of between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius during the months June to September this year, at more than 80 shopping malls. Electricity consumption for air-conditioning in commercial premises, including shopping malls is significant, and therefore reducing energy consumption for air-conditioning can help achieve substantial energy saving," she said.
Both Mr Chan and Ms Wong added that the event was an important milestone in promoting community-wide energy saving. They hoped that Hong Kong would develop into an energy saving and low carbon metropolis, through the collective efforts of all sections of the community.
For the list of companies and shopping malls participating in the Energy Saving Charter, please refer to www.energyland.emsd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, June 7, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:00
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