The details are listed in the following:

“No Air Con Night” is a territory-wide energy saving campaign started in 2010 to promote the wise use of air conditioning held by Green Sense. We aim to bring out the importance in reducing greenhouse gases emission and saving energy through this event.

In the post COVID era, we resume face-to-face environmental education activities in schools and more activities for the public are coming.

The purpose of the school seminars is to raise the understanding of the climate change and extreme weather, and threats to human being and the ecology. Energy saving actions are encouraged to change the boiling future.

On the other hand, serial air-con-free outdoor events will be held in the Autumn, including: Tsui Hang Night Safari, Parent-child Play at Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve, Astropark Stargazing Night, and Green Camping Experience Day. All are welcome to connect with the nature, and enhance the interactions with the natural environment.

Online registration is not necessary this year. We hope for everyone to ease the “global boiling”, by wisely use of energy in order to reduce the greenhouse gases emission.

We should rethink the energy consumption habits that may rapidly affect our environment. Take a step in turning off the air conditioning while the outdoor temperature is below 27 degree Celsius!

More about No Air Con Night 2023: http://greensense.org.hk/noaircon

Territory-wide campaign “No Air Con Night 2021″ is coming for 12 consecutive years. We call for turning off the air con on that night, in cooling down the Earth. Some people may start to reduce the use of air-conditioning at home by joining the campaign. Therefore we encourage the member of the public to “Turn off the air con when the outdoor temperature is below 27 degree Celcius”. Let “No Air Con Night” become a habit, not only for one night! It can be today, tomorrow and every night!

We believe a change starts day-to-day. To ease the Global Warming and extreme weather, we are responsible to reduce the greenhouse gases emission and implement green living. When we rely on cooling our room temperature by air con, the weather will be hotter and hotter, which is trapped in a vicious circle. A better way to cool down is turning off the air con.

In the coming August to September, public engagement activities such as a lyrics competition of《夏日熱辣辣—無冷氣版》https://youtu.be/znbGpYaTGfc, “No Air Con Week Writing Competition”, “Creative Cooling Method Challenge” are for all ages with prizes. Please follow Green Sense Facebook Page for more details.

More about No Air Con Night：http://greensense.org.hk/noaircon

All can take action on easing the Global Warming.

While turning on the air con at home on hot days, are you aware of heating up the outdoor temperature?

Hong Kong consumed 4.48 billion kWh of electricity in 2019, of which air-conditioning made up around 30% (1.34 billion kWh of electricity) of the total, that equates releasing 7.44 million tonnes of carbon emission to the atmosphere.

If we rely on indoor air conditioning when the weather gets hotter, a vicious positive feedback is formed in warming the planet.

Using less air conditioning is truly a way in cooling the Earth.

All are welcome to join the “No Air Con Night 2020″ on 9th October (suggesting from 7 pm). The first step of change can be taken by turning off the air con at home together.

Sign up here: www.noaircon.com

Meanwhile, climate change has reached the tipping point that we could not neglect. In the first half year of 2020, many countries and regions worldwide set a new record of high temperature. According to the statistics from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average global temperature for the first half of this year was recorded higher than the last century by 1.07°C. This record is the 2nd highest of June since 1880 after 2016 was recorded as the second warmer [3].

The first half of the year had warmer-than-average conditions across the continents, particularly in central, northern and eastern Europe, plus North Asia, in which Siberia has encountered the most significant temperature change. For example, Verkhoyansk, a town located in the northeast Russia had recorded 38°C on 20^th June 2020 [4]. After this record is verified by World Meteorological Organization (WMO), it would be the highest temperature recorded in the Arctic Circle. Referring to the analysis done by Nation Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) scientists, the year 2020 is most likely to rank in the top five of the warmest years on record [3].

Under this pandemic condition, people spend more time at home, and may increase the usage of air conditioning at home. When the climate change is increasingly severe, we should live a greener way by reducing carbon emission. We could start by using less air conditioning.

If you wish to turn on the air conditioner under certain circumstances, here are some tips for you to go greener!

1. Select and use air conditioner with Grade 1 energy label
2. Adjust and keep the room temperature between 24 °C and 26 °C
3. Cooperate with electric fans to use less air con
4. Turn on air con in the auto mode
5. Adjust the wind deflector to horizontal direction
6. Select and use “inverter” air con
7. Clean up the air filter regularly
8. Keep the door and windows closed when air con is on
9. Switch off unnecessary lighting and heating appliances
10. Switch off the air con once you feel cold!

References:

1. Census and Statistics Department, ”Hong Kong Energy Statistics 2019 Annual Report”, https://bit.ly/3jVsQjm
2. Electrical & Mechanical Services Department (2020), “Hong Kong Energy End-use Data 2019″, https://bit.ly/2EwuRST
3. National Centers for Environmental Information (2020), “Assessing the Global Climate in June 2020”, https://bit.ly/310zWdJ
4. The Copernicus Climate Change Service (2020), “Arctic Siberia’s unusual warm spell continues”, https://bit.ly/2P5BNs6

Event Summary

Thanks to all parties supporting the 7^th Hong Kong No Air Con Night on 7^th October

Over 80 thousands families pledged to switch off air-con to reduce carbon emission

Hong Kong people switched off air con together to ease the climate change

Green Sense has carried out series of surveys on air conditioning. According to the survey last month, the abuse of air con is still severe. Air conditioning can account for 60% of electricity consumption in summer (July to August) and about 30% of the total consumption throughout the year.

Hong Kong No Air Con Night is an annual energy saving event held by Green Sense. Participants pledged to switch off the air con at home from 7pm on 7th Oct to 7am the next day. The event also urged people to reduce air con usage in daily life in order to break free from the air con and rethink how to use the energy and other resources wisely.

It is especially meaningful this year for two reasons. Not only in response to the agreement for setting a goal of limiting global warming to no more than 2°C in Conference of the Parties 21 (COP21), but also the carbon dioxide concentration exceeds the threshold of 400ppm. Global warming is an imminent problem to all creatures on Earth. Hong Kong Government and citizens should take action to save energy to tackle the climate change.

This campaign acquired full support from different parties. Environmental Protection Department and Hongkong Post have supported this event for consecutive years. Other government departments and public organizations such as Hong Kong Observatory, Water Supplies Department, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Electrical & Mechanical Services Department and Estate Agents Authority also showed their supports this year. Moreover, 12 Legco councilors and dozens of district council members joined No Air Con Night. Several political parties also joined this campaign to encourage citizens in different districts to turn off the air con.

Dr. Lee Lok Sze (Polar Explorer), Prof. Way Kuo (President and University Distinguished Professor, City University of Hong Kong), Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong (President, The Open University of Hong Kong), Prof. Lam Chiu Ying (Adjunct Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong), Prof. C.Y. Jim (Chair Professor of Geography, The University of Hong Kong) and Mr. James Hong, Akio (Travel Column Writer) are in the celebrity list. Prof. Ho Kin Chung (Dean, Science & Technology, The Open University of Hong Kong) and Professor Chan King Ming (Programme Director, Environmental Science, School of Life Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong) were the guests of honour in No Air Con Night 2016 Turn-off ceremony.

43 Universities and Higher Education Institutes and 292 schools (55 secondary schools, 124 primary schools, 1 special school and 112 kindergartens) took part in No Air Con Night.. There were thousands of teachers and students joined this campaign to experience and practice green living. Some schools also held different kinds of energy-saving activities such as switching off air con during school time in response to this campaign.

No Air Con Night was also supported by over 200 companies and organizations which promote this campaign to their staff. Over 700 buildings also encourage residents and tenants to join. Some property management companies even turned off air-con at some areas of buildings and estates.

According to the Hong Kong No Air Con Night 2016 registration website, there were over 80 thousands families and universities hall mates pledged to turn off the air con on No Air Con Night. As the weather become cooler in October, there might be many other unregistered families who also turn off the air con that night. The reduction of carbon emission and the heat to outdoor can be reduced as long as the importance of Less Air Con is established.

Green Sense is satisfied with the outcome and participation rate. We aim to arouse people to rethink their life style and understand the importance of saving energy from the increasing electricity consumption. This campaign also provided a chance for all citizens to reduce carbon emission in daily life.

The No Air Con Night 2016 Turn-off Ceremony was held again at Kwun Tong Promenade “Fly the Flyover 01″ this year. Other than the Moonlight Workshop, organic agriculture sharing, organic rice sharing and music concert cum movie screening were carried out. At that night, a hundred of people enjoyed workshops, music, movie and nature breeze together. The movie, Anachronic, showed the controversy between Macau development and light pollution which drove the audience to think about similar environmental problems in HK.

Green Sense hopes all had some good times on the No Air Con Night and were aware of the message of environmental protection. In order to reduce the waste production in holding activities, most of the material utilized in workshops were recycled and reused. Moreover, some workshops required participants to bring their own tools to avoid using disposable materials. At that night, ‘No Air Con Night’ reduced the temperature of the Earth as well as the pollution.

Part of the Celebrity List :

Prof. Way Kuo (President and University Distinguished Professor, City University of Hong Kong)

Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong, JP (President, The Open University of Hong Kong)

Prof. Lam Chiu Ying (Adjunct Professor of the Department of Geography and Resources Management, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

Prof. C.Y. Jim (Chair Professor of Geography, The University of Hong Kong)

Dr. Rebecca Lee Lok Sze, MH (Polar Museum Foundation Ltd. Founder)

Mr. Shun Chi Ming, JP  (Director of the HK Observatory)

Mr. James Hong, Akio (Travel Column Writer)

Mr. Mark, Mak Chi Ho (Animal Conservator)

Hon CHAN Hak-kan, BBS, JP

Hon. KWOK Wai-keung

Hon. WONG Ting-kwong, SBS, JP

Hon. HUI Chi-fung

Hon. OR Chong-shing, Wilson, MH

Dr. Hon. YIU Chung-yim

Hon. IP Kin-yuen

Hon. YIU Si-wing, BBS

Hon. Jeremy TAM Man-ho

Dr. Hon. Pierre Chan

Hon. Sixtus LEUNG Chung-hang

Hon. TSE Wai Chun, Paul

More about the event and Moonlight workshop, please refer to http://greensense.org.hk/noaircon

A survey about indoor temperature (air conditioning) was conducted over 10 shopping malls. A total of 486 customers’ feedback on air-conditioning in those malls was also collected via questionnaires. The results revealed 9 out of 10 malls being measured do not conform to the temperature range stated in “Energy Saving Charter on Indoor Temperature”. By comparing to the results of the questionnaires, it is also suggested that customers may not necessarily feel more comfortable in lower temperatures. It is the time for the shopping mall management to drop the idea “colder the better” and take customers’ actual feeling with environmental consideration into their temperature management plan.

Green Sense is a local green group focusing on urban environmental and planning issues. We have investigated and reported about air-con abuse situations in public transport and public space, in order to promote energy saving and ultimately reduce carbon emissions in Hong Kong. Green Sense had previously conducted a shopping mall air con survey in 2008.

Coincides with the upcoming “No Air-Con Night 2016” event, air-con survey of shopping malls were conducted in the last two months. The survey consists of two parts: 1) a standardized measurement of average indoor temperature of 10 shopping malls and 2) 486 questionnaires were collected by to reflect customers’ actual thermal feelings of indoor temperature in those malls.

This survey integrated “objective” temperature data and “subjective” felling of customers which is useful to explain why the malls should improve, and provide a better and reasonable framework for indoor temperature management.

Background

Electricity generation is accounted for about 68% of Hong Kong’s total carbon emissions. If we are really eager to slow down climate change by reducing carbon emissions, cutting down electricity usage is of utmost importance. As air conditioning is the biggest electricity consumer in buildings, Green Sense believes that the problem of air con abuse is worth exploring.

In 2012, Environment Bureau introduced “Energy Saving Charter on Indoor Temperature” which aimed to encourage buildings, organizations and companies to pledge “to maintain an average indoor temperature of between 24 – 26°C in the summer months from June to September”.

Methodology

Phase One: About 30 shopping malls were sampled randomly for preliminary indoor temperature measurement in July 2016. It was then narrowed down to 10 shopping malls based on the result of preliminary measurement, previous survey results, whether the mall had joined the Charter and their establish time.

Phase Tw0: The 10 malls were subjected to detail temperature measurement in accordance with the measurement guideline set out by the Environment Bureau. Questionnaire interview was also conducted for each selected mall.

Analysis

Part I. The “Objective” Part – Indoor Temperature Data

1. The overall situation is slightly improved when compared to the survey result in 2008. However, the average temperature of 10 malls was measured at only 22.8℃, which 9 out of 10 malls were measured with average temperature lower than 24℃ as stated in the charter (24-26℃).
2. The lowest average indoor temperature (21.7℃) was recorded at Lions Rise Mall; whereas the lowest measured single spot temperature (19.8℃) was recorded at YOHO mall.
3. A significant difference between outdoor temperature and indoor temperature could build up (maximum difference measured: 11.8℃) which may bring discomfort to and affect health of customers.

Part II. The “Subjective” Part – Questionnaire

There were total 486 valid questionnaires. Respondents were the customers leaving the 10 selected shopping malls. The questionnaires contained 10 questions about feedback of indoor temperature of the mall.

Q1. What do you feel in this mall? (Rate: -3 “too cold” to 0 “comfortable” to 3 “too hot”)

59% of respondents thought it was comfortable. Although there is not serious complaint about the temperature, the weight average -0.5 reflects a general remark of “too cold” in the shopping malls.

Q2. How satisfied are you with the indoor temperature of this mall? (Rate: 1 “very dissatisfied” to 5 “very satisfied”)

The respondents are generally satisfied with the indoor temperature. However, a specific relationship cannot be concluded between customer satisfaction and the respective mall indoor temperature.

For the mall recorded with the highest average temperature (The Landmark at 24.1^oC) and the coldest (Lion Rise Mall at 21.7^oC), both malls were also said to be acceptable (average rating 3.39 and 3.36 respectively). It suggests the tolerance of indoor temperature of customers is ranged, and there should be other factors other than temperature which have effect on customers’ satisfaction.

Q3. Which indoor temperature do you feel the most comfortable?

24^oC received highest number of votes. 24^oC and 25^oC were the first two prior choices which accounted for more than half of (57%) respondents.

Considering (Q2) the customers well accept 24^oC as comfortable temperature and (Q3) the respondents also perceive 24^oC-25^oC as the most comfortable indoor temperature, and further taking importance of environmental concerns in account, Green Sense believes that it is reasonable to request shopping malls keeping their indoor temperature between (24^oC-26^oC) as stated by the Charter.

Q4. Does indoor temperature affect your will of shopping? (Rate: 0 “no effect” to 4 “severe effect”)

73% of respondents said indoor temperature does affect their will of shopping. The result suggests an economic incentive for the shopping malls to adjusting the indoor temperature within customer “comfortable zone”.

Q5. If you feel “too cold” in a mall, what will you do?

About one-third of respondents would leave the mall immediately, which is related to the business of the shopping malls.

Apart from it, only 17% of customers would inform the customer service/ mall staff for the over cold temperature, which could be a result of the thinking “it is not effective by only individual complaints/ the customer service is not going to reflect my view”.

Q6. Compared with the summer 5 years ago, how do you feel about this summer? (Rate: colder to hotter)

Most of the respondents agree this summer is hotter than that of 5 years ago.

Q7. Do you know what ‘Energy Saving Charter on Indoor Temperature’ is?

61% did not know about it.

Q8. Do you know what “thermal comfort” is?

61% did not know about it.

Q9&10. Respondents’ gender and age.

Conclusions

In recent years, global climate change has become more severe. Extreme weather occurs more frequently and Hong Kong will inevitably subject to its effect. We aim to remind the public and community to take prompt action in order to face the challenges arose from climate change.

The survey results indicated some malls still wastes much power by unnecessarily keeping their indoor temperature as low as 21^oC, much lower that the 24^oC-26^oC temperature range suggested by the Charter. From the feedback from customers it is also suggested that temperature is not the sole factor of making people comfortable. Since people feel and perceive 24℃-25℃ is the most comfortable temperature range, shopping malls should raising their indoor temperature to such range so as to comfort their customers and save energy at the same.

Green Sense urges properties management companies to prevent abusing air-con and drop the believe “colder the better”. A wise temperature management can relief strain on environment, improve customer satisfaction and bring economic benefits.

Suggestions

Temperature is merely one of the several factors affecting how the customer really feels (“Thermal comfort”). Instead of lowering the indoor temperature (which is the most energy and money consuming way) to comfort the customers, it would be more wise to work on other thermal comfort factors such as ventilation and humidity. Closer collaboration between property managements, academic field and green groups are urged to provide stronger support for environmental friendly indoor temperature control schemes.

Follow-ups

• Contacting the management companies to discuss what should be done to comply with the Charter.
• Urging Environment Bureau to strengthen the promotion and supervision of the Charter.
• Enhancing the education about wise air-con using.
• Continuing to study how thermal comfort to be fully considering in controlling indoor temperature and hence to reduce power consumption.
• Civil – Commercial Cooperation: Long-term monitoring of the public feeling about the indoor temperature (e.g. questionnaire / mobile app); an incentive monitoring program on indoor temperature.

Despite Hong Kong’s natural subtropical climate, it is not unusual to see people wearing jackets and coats indoors. Arctic blasts of cold air from restaurants and malls that leave their AC on continuously can be felt even from the streets. The territory-wide wasteful and hazardous overuse of air conditioning has become so normalized that it is not receiving proper attention as a public health problem. Hong Kong only passes about 10% of the World Health Organization’s standards for clean air, and the abuse of air conditioning is a major source of contamination.

It can be difficult to discuss cutting air conditioner use in the summer. In moderation, air conditioning can offer relief from sweltering heat waves and help prevent faintness and heat stroke. However, overusing it comes with health risks of its own. Air conditioning aggravates air pollution in enclosed spaces. Dirty filters spread pesticides, allergens, mercury, and particulate matter that can cause asthma, lung infections, and heart attacks. The increased CO2 levels from overuse of air conditioning also cause dizziness, headaches, and fatigue. On the street, the ever-present dripping from broken AC units overhead creates puddles of polluted water that host harmful bacteria and spread infectious illnesses.

Air conditioning can account for as much as 30% of total electricity usage in Hong Kong. In order to meet this demand, power plants burn fossil fuels and emit clouds of pollutants into the atmosphere. This massive energy guzzling consumption has a huge impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Hong Kong suffers from the urban heat island effect, which means that urbanized areas of Hong Kong are consistently hotter than outlying areas as a result of pollution generated by human activity. These heat traps create more demand for AC use and generate more waste, further driving up temperatures and corrupting air quality. It is time to time to break free from this vicious cycle and come together to save our environment!

Let’s join the No Air Con Night 2016 for cooling the Earth!

SIGN UP NOW http://greensense.org.hk/noaircon

“Hong Kong No Air Con Night” is a territory-wide energy saving campaign to promote the wise use of air-conditioning. For consecutive six years, we encourage the general public including Hong Kong households, government officials and university hostels to participate.

Green Sense aims to bring out the importance in reducing greenhouse gases and saving energy through this event. It is clearly shown how the public and private collaboration in maintaining the momentum on energy saving.

Air-conditioning accounts for over 60% during July to August and around 30% of all electricity end-uses in Hong Kong throughout the year. The Government promotes the indoor temperature at 25.5℃ and launched the “Energy Saving Charter on Indoor Temperature since 2012 June. The wise use of Air Con is important.

Since 2010, “Hong Kong No Air Con Night” was a resounding success with the generous support from citizens, the business community, education institutes and political parties. With reference to the pledge collected from the general public, over 75000 households joined and turned off the air conditioning at home and hostels.

We sincerely invite all citizens in Hong Kong to switch off their air con on 25 Sept 2015, suggesting from 7pm to 7am the next day.

All are welcome to join the low carbon workshop and Eco-friendly short film on that night, in supporting the No Air Con Night. Indeed, the wise use of air con and resources should be promoted in daily life, in order to lower the emission of greenhouse gases and save our environment.

For more details, please visit: greensense.org.hk/noaircon/

Thanks for joining the No Air Con Night on 26th Sept.
273 schools, 15 higher institutions , 165 companies joined
70,000 households and hostels joined hand to save the planet

It’s near the end of October, the weather is cool. It’s time to let the air-conditioner(s) take a “rest”. If there are openable windows in office, such as the staff rooms in schools, it will be perfect to have fresh air in the room rather than air-conditioning.

On the other hand, Green Sense has successfully organized “No Air Con Night 2013” on 26th September. We would like to express our gratitude to the joined individuals and organizations.

15 universities and higher education institutions, 273 schools including 57 secondary schools, 105 primary schools and 111 kindergartens & nursery schools joined and supported the No Air Con Night 2013. Meanwhile, over 165 companies and organizations signed up and urged their staff and members to support, nearly 500 buildings and estates also promoted the event. All students and citizens were encouraged and pledged to turn off the air conditioning at home on 26th September 2013.

From our registration record, over 75,000 households and university students signed up for the No Air Con Night 2013. Refer to the data provided by the electricity generators, the decrease of the electricity consumption was at least 600mw/h in total and reduced 420 tons of carbon dioxide emission.

We are satisfied with the outcome since it is very close to our target. “No Air Con Night” as an energy saving event is to promote the wise use of air conditioning, in order to lower the emission of greenhouse gases by rethink our energy consumption habit.

We hope all of you to put the energy saving practices, especially the abuse of air con, into the green living for protecting our environment through the No Air Con Night. We should lower the emission of carbon dioxide as well as the heated air by air con in our urban environment.