In Hong Kong, with the improvement of environmental awareness and the increasing demand for sustainable development, more and more buildings are striving to obtain green certification. Green certification is a standard for evaluating the environmental friendliness and sustainable performance of buildings, mainly including energy efficiency, water resource management, indoor environmental quality, material sustainability and other aspects. In Hong Kong, the most common green certification systems include BEAM Plus of the Hong Kong Green Building Council, and the certifications that are more recognized in the international market include LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and WELL certification of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

8 Benefits of Obtaining Green Certification for Buildings in Hong Kong

1. Improve environmental benefits

Buildings that have obtained green certification in Hong Kong usually take environmental impact into consideration during the design and construction stages, so measures to reduce carbon emissions, save energy and water resources, and effectively manage waste are key considerations. For example, the use of high-energy-efficiency air-conditioning systems and electrical appliances, LED lighting systems and solar panel installations can significantly reduce energy consumption and waste, increase the use of renewable energy, and greatly reduce the operating costs of buildings. In particular, the savings in existing buildings after improving energy efficiency are more obvious.

2. Increase the value of buildings

Buildings with green certifications tend to attract more quality buyers and tenants. Studies show that the market demand for green buildings is increasing, as consumers or tenants pay more and more attention to sustainability and environmental protection, especially international brands. Green certification can not only increase the sales price and rent of buildings, but also shorten the time to be rented and sold, which is very beneficial for developers and investors.

3. Enhance brand image

For companies, having green certification can show their commitment to sustainable development, thereby enhancing their brand image. This is particularly important for companies seeking to attract environmentally conscious consumers and investors. Green buildings can be part of corporate social responsibility (CSR) or corporate ESG planning and form a competitive advantage in the market.

4. Reduce operating costs

To become a green building, comprehensive sustainability optimization must be carried out in the early stage, such as energy efficiency, health and well-being, and more standardized property operations and management. Therefore, the initial investment (captical cost) may be higher, but in the long run, resource management measures for energy conservation and carbon reduction can significantly reduce operating costs. For example, the use of high-efficiency air-conditioning equipment and LED lighting systems can save a lot of electricity costs. In addition, good indoor environmental quality can also improve employee productivity and further reduce human resource costs.

5. Improve indoor environmental quality

Green certified buildings not only increase the attention paid to the use of energy and resources, but also pay special attention to the quality of the indoor environment. By selecting low volatile organic compound (VOC) materials, designing a good ventilation system and using natural lighting and other technologies, green buildings can improve the indoor environmental quality (Indoor Environmental Quality), enhance the health and comfort of users or residents, and the quality of the working environment is positively correlated with employee satisfaction and productivity, which is particularly important for office buildings.

6. Comply with government policies and regulations

In recent years, the Hong Kong government has attached increasing importance to sustainable development and environmental protection. After signing the Paris Climate Agreement, the Climate Change Framework for Built Environment and Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2050, relevant policies and regulations have become increasingly stringent. Obtaining green certification can not only help developers and companies meet current regulatory requirements, but also reduce future non-compliance risks when policies change.

7. Obtain support from the government and financial institutions

In Hong Kong, many financial institutions offer favorable loan terms for green-certified buildings, and even some government programs provide funding and support for green-certified buildings, which allows developers and owners to have more flexibility in capital operations and reduce capital costs. For more information, please refer to the Hong Kong Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance launched by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.

8. Promote sustainable community development

Green certified buildings not only encourage individual buildings to optimize their sustainability performance, including energy efficiency, but also help promote the sustainable development of the entire community. By introducing green buildings, environmental awareness and behavioral changes can be promoted within the community, thereby improving the quality of life of the entire community.

Green certified buildings are becoming a market trend in Hong Kong, China and even the world. They not only bring environmental benefits, but also improve economic benefits, improve living and working environment, and enhance corporate image. In addition to providing professional energy audit services, HKEA will also help you optimize energy efficiency and achieve the qualifications for green certification. Our team is led by Dr. Tse, who is experienced and has multiple certification professional qualifications (such as WELL AP, WELL Faculty, LEED AP, BEAM Pro, Energy Assessor - ZCRB and SITES AP, etc.), and can provide you with valuable advice and assistance.