[Selected Buildings and Brands for Hong Kong Green Certification]

With sustainable development being promoted worldwide, green certification has long become a core indicator for measuring sustainability and building quality. Whether it's a brand store, commercial building, or major renovation project, choosing the right green rating and certification can help highlight environmental awareness, enhance asset value, attract international tenants, and support Hong Kong's carbon reduction and climate goals. Brands can also use green certification to join the ESG ranks and open up new collaborations. Hong Kong's green certification options include mainstream local and international certifications such as BEAM Plus, LEED, and WELL. This article will explain how these design concepts and rating systems are applied to different types of architectural and interior design projects.

BEAM Plus Hong Kong Green Building Certification Brand

BEAM Plus (Beam Plus Environmental Assessment System), led by the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) and the BEAM Society, is Hong Kong's most mainstream and influential building environmental certification system. Since its launch in 2010, it has certified over 1,800 projects, covering new buildings, existing buildings, interior design, and community planning. BEAM Plus develops scoring criteria tailored to Hong Kong's subtropical climate, urban density, and user habits.

BEAM Plus certification covers a wide range of areas, including energy efficiency, water management, indoor environmental quality, building materials, waste management, site selection, greenery, and community health. Its scoring is rigorous and detailed. Different types of certifications have dedicated toolkits, including New Buildings, Existing Buildings, Interiors, Neighborhoods, and Data Centers.

BEAM Plus offers four main ratings: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Projects must complete key prerequisites and achieve corresponding scores in each area to receive the official certification. Platinum is the highest level, representing projects that meet leading global standards in all aspects. The BEAM Plus rating system is not only applicable to new buildings, but also strongly promotes the upgrading of existing buildings and the greening of interior spaces (such as offices and shops) to support the development of Hong Kong's construction industry and its carbon neutrality goals.

Hong Kong commercial buildings with BEAM Plus green certification include: Three Garden Road, Lee Garden Three, Hong Kong Land's Central portfolio, Festival Walk, etc. (This list is not exhaustive)

LEED is an internationally renowned multi-type certification

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is one of the world's most recognized green building certification tools. LEED ratings cover multiple aspects, including energy, water resources, materials, indoor air, health, transportation, and land use, and are in line with international standards and rigorous.

LEED has four certification levels, including Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each project is submitted separately according to different construction stages, such as new construction (Building Design & Construction), existing building operation (Operation & Maintenance), interior design (Interior Design & Construction), and residential version. Green certification is based on a point accumulation system, and each score reflects its contribution to green living and sustainability.

- Certified: 40-49 points (passing threshold)
- Silver: 50-59 points (better than passing)
- Gold: 60-79 points (high standard of practice)
- Platinum: 80 points or above (top level)

High-level certifications (such as Gold and Platinum) often indicate outstanding performance in energy efficiency, carbon reduction, environmental health, and other areas, helping to attract international companies and tenants from markets outside Europe and the United States. Many Grade A office buildings, iconic redevelopments, and even interior designs in Hong Kong adopt LEED, serving as a confidence guarantee for international tenants.

LEED-certified commercial buildings in Hong Kong include: Three Garden Road, Lee Garden Three, Hong Kong Land's Central portfolio, One Hennessy, and The Millennity Tower 1. (This list is not exhaustive.)

WELL is a green certification focused on health and well-being

In recent years, architectural design has focused more on "people-centric" health factors, with the WELL Building Standard gaining increasing attention. WELL green certification focuses not only on energy conservation and emission reduction, but also on the impact of the indoor environment on human health and well-being. Examples include air and water quality, lighting, acoustics, exercise spaces, diet, psychology, and social connection.

WELL green certification is divided into four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.
- Bronze: Must meet all basic preconditions. This is the entry level of WELL and the first step to certification.
- Silver: In addition to the basic prerequisites, some optimization requirements must be met.
- Gold: In addition to the prerequisites, more optimization conditions must be met, representing a high level of healthy building practice.
- Platinum: Meets the highest proportion of self-improvement requirements and all prerequisites, which is the top mark in WELL certification.

WELL supports a wide range of building types, including new buildings, existing structures, interiors, and core and shell (Core + Shell), offering exceptional flexibility. Offices, healthcare facilities, retail, residential buildings, and schools are all eligible to apply, ushering in a new trend in interior design towards "healthy buildings." In recent years, many new commercial buildings, corporate headquarters, and high-quality co-working spaces in Hong Kong have actively pursued WELL certification to enhance the well-being of tenants and employees.

Hong Kong commercial buildings with WELL green certification include: Three Garden Road, The Millennity Tower 1, Citi Tower at One Bay East, etc. (This list is not exhaustive)

Interior Design/Space Certification: Enhance Brand Value

For interior renovations in offices, residences, and retail spaces, BEAM Plus Interiors (BI), LEED ID+C (Interior Design & Construction), and WELL Interiors all offer certification for existing space renovations. These certifications focus on material selection, renovation process, energy-efficient lighting, indoor air quality, acoustics, natural light, intelligent controls, and living comfort. Each system has its own unique scoring system, ultimately resulting in a Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze rating, facilitating selection for spaces of varying sizes, budgets, and uses.

BEAM Plus Bi green certification: Humansa K11, CC Wu International Co., Ltd, Renovation Works of New Headquarters for the Construction Industry Council, etc. (This list is not exhaustive)

Click here to view more buildings and interiors that have received BEAM Plus green certification

LEED ID+C certified buildings include McDonald's (Hong Kong Tai Wo Plaza), GSK Hong Kong Office, ABN AMRO Bank NV, Hong Kong Branch, Maje Hong Kong IFC, and Burberry Hong Kong Ocean Centre CHW. (This list is not exhaustive)

Click here to view more LEED-certified buildings and interiors

WELL certified buildings include Standard Chartered Bank ( 68 Nathan Road Branch), Invesco Hong Kong Limited, and Hysan Property Management Limited Office - Lee Garden Two. (This list is not exhaustive.)

Click here to view more WELL-certified buildings and interiors

How to choose green certification?

- If Hong Kong local standards and the Hong Kong market are the main focus, BEAM Plus is most suitable for the climate environment and regulations, and has strong support from the government, developers and financial institutions.
- Seeking to attract international tenants or overseas assets, LEED has wide global recognition.
- With its focus on employee and user health and social responsibility, WELL has been favored by large enterprises, schools, and institutions in recent years.
- For renovation of existing buildings or purely interior design projects, priority should be given to the relevant interior version.

HKEA Green Certification Application and Consultancy Services

BEAM Plus, LEED, and WELL, three global green certifications, have become essential tools for the Hong Kong architecture and interior design community to understand and apply. From new building design and construction to existing building renovations, as well as office, retail, and residential interior design, these certifications offer flexible options tailored to project needs. With increasing societal demand, green certifications will become increasingly prevalent, driving Hong Kong's development into a livable, sustainable, and internationally attractive green city. HKEA, with its professional REA team and BEAM Pro, WELL AP, and LEED AP green certification consultants, can fully assist in applying for BEAM Plus, WELL, LEED, and other green certifications for buildings, branded retail spaces, and office spaces. We offer tailored solutions for various projects, covering site assessments, solution planning, application processes, and long-term maintenance, helping you enhance asset value, brand image, and ESG competitiveness. Please feel free to contact us for inquiries.