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To promote community-wide participation in saving energy, the Environment Bureau and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department have launched the Energy Saving Charter on Indoor Temperature and the Energy Saving Charter on No Incandescent Light Bulbs, aiming to reduce electricity consumption through air conditioning and the use of energy-inefficient incandescent light bulbs (ILBs).
Officiating at the launch ceremony for the two charters today (June 5), the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, pointed out that to combat climate change we cannot afford to delay conserving energy or reducing our carbon footprint. He noted that today marks annual World Environment Day (WED), making it a meaningful occasion on which to launch the charters and call on the community to support WED by adopting a more energy-efficient lifestyle.
Mr Wong said he hoped that Hong Kong would become an energy-efficient and low carbon city with better collaboration between Government, businesses and society.
Buildings account for more than 90 per cent of total electricity consumption in Hong Kong and contribute more than 60 per cent of greenhouse gases emissions, one third of which are caused by air conditioning. The Government created the Energy Saving Charter on Indoor Temperature by inviting shopping malls, shops, office premises and offices to sign up. So far, 32 developers and property management companies have pledged to maintain an average indoor temperature at 120 shopping malls of between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius from June to September. In addition more than 550 retail shops, 170 office buildings and 440 organisations have signed up to the charter.
All participants will display the Energy Saving Charter on Indoor Temperature and relevant publicity materials at their premises to disseminate the message of energy saving to staff, customers and the general public.
In addition, the Government launched the Energy Saving Charter on No Incandescent Light Bulbs to expedite the retirement of energy-inefficient ILBs. As ILBs work by heating up a tungsten filament, only 10 per cent of electricity consumption is used for lighting, making them very wasteful. Signatories to the charter pledged not to replenish their stocks of ILBs and not to sell ILBs from December 31 this year.
To encourage the public to choose energy-efficient replacements, the Government will step up public education through TV Announcements in the Public Interest (APIs) and radio APIs, leaflets and a thematic website. The TV API on the Energy Saving Charter on No Incandescent Light Bulbs was premiered at the launch ceremony.
Today's ceremony was also attended by more than 100 representatives of property developers, relevant organisations, suppliers and retailers who have signed the charters.
The launch of energy saving charters is one of the signature events under the theme of "Fresh Hong Kong" of the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign, and aims to encourage different sectors in the community to save energy and protect the environment.
Ends/Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:15
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