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The Government will introduce the Buildings Energy Efficiency Bill into the Legislative Council on December 9. The bill will specify the minimum energy efficiency standards for buildings in Hong Kong by mandating compliance with the Building Energy Codes.
"Buildings account for 89% of electricity consumption in Hong Kong. Improving building energy efficiency will help improve local air quality and alleviate the adverse effect of climate change," a government spokesman said.
"It is estimated that for new buildings, implementation of the proposal will result in energy saving of 2.8 billion kWh in the first decade, which will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.96 million tonnes."
For buildings which obtain Building Authority's consents to the commencement of building works for superstructure construction after the new legislation comes into operation, their key building service installations, including air-conditioning, electrical, lift and escalator and lighting installations should comply with the specified energy efficiency standards and requirements. Buildings which obtain such consents on or before the day when the new legislation comes into operation are required to comply with the energy efficiency standards and requirements when they undergo major retrofitting works.
Owners of commercial buildings and commercial portion of composite buildings are required to conduct energy audits for the common area of their buildings once every 10 years. Audit results should be exhibited in a conspicuous position at the main entrance of the buildings.
The Government last year concluded a three-month public consultation on the proposed mandatory implementation of the Building Energy Codes. After the consultation, the Government continued to gauge views on the detailed legislative proposal through a Trade Task Force and a Technical Task Force. The Government also commissioned a Business Impact Assessment to assess the impact of the proposal on the business sector. The proposal was supported by the Advisory Council on the Environment and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Sub-committee of the Energy Advisory Committee, and the Legislative Council Panel on Environmental Affairs raised no objection.
The Government pledged in the 2009-10 Policy Address to introduce this bill into the Legislative Council by the end of this year. The Bill will be published in the Gazette on Friday (December 4) and will be introduced into the Legislative Council on December 9.
Ends/Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:10
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