Thanks to all parties supporting the 8th Hong Kong No Air Con Night on 29th September

Green group and Director of the Hong Kong Observatory urge citizens: “Turning off the air con for cooling the earth!”

Air conditioning accounts for 31% of all electricity use in Hong Kong every year. Energy consumption boosts to 60% between July and August. Local green group Green Sense has long been paying close attention to energy saving and conducted researches on both individual and organizational misuse of air conditioning. Green Sense latest air conditioning survey released in September 2017 found that the abuse of air con is common. There are still a lot improvements at home, school, office and public transport area.

“Hong Kong No Air Con Night” is an annual energy saving event that aims to promote green practices and encourage people to bear the responsibility as a member of the earth village. Participants pledged to switch off the air con at home from 7pm on 29th Sep 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.

The 8^th Hong Kong Air Con Night responds to the implementation of The Paris Agreement for setting a goal of limiting global warming to no more than 2°C. More importantly, we experienced the hottest August in Hong Kong history. Hong Kong Government and citizens should act promptly in saving energy and tackling the climate change.

This campaign acquired full support from different parties. Environmental Protection Department, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and Hong Kong Post have supported this event for consecutive years. Other government departments and public organizations such as Hong Kong Observatory, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, Estate Agents Authority, Legislative Council Secretariat and hospitals under the Hospital 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. Joseph SUNG Jao Yiu (Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong), Prof. Way Kuo (President and University Distinguished Professor, City University of Hong Kong), Prof. Lam Chiu Ying (Adjunct Professor, The Chinese University of Hong Kong), Mr. SIT Wing Hang, Alfred, JP (Dir of Electrical & Mechanical Services/Gen Mgr), Mr. SHUN Chi Ming, JP (Director, HK Observatory), Mr. LAI Hon Chung, Harry, JP (Dep Dir of Electrical & Mechanical Services/Regulatory Services) and Prof. HO Kin Chung (Dean, Science & Technology, The Open University of HK) are in the celebrity list.

According to the Hong Kong No Air Con Night 2017 registration website at noon 29/9, there were over 90 thousands families pledged to turn off the air con on No Air Con Night! A 1 HP air conditioner consumes around 1 kWh, turning up the device for a night equals 4.72 kg carbon emission. Therefore, we estimated that 94 thousands pledged families could reduce 750 thousands kWh and 444 tons of carbon emission.

18 Universities and Higher Education Institutes, and 348 schools (59 secondary schools, 151 primary schools and special school and 138 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 sharing information about global warming and heat island effect at morning assembly, switching off air con during school time in response to this campaign.

No Air Con Night is also supported by over 250 companies and organizations which promote this campaign to their staff. Near 1100 buildings also encourage residents and tenants to join. Some property management companies even turned off air-con at some areas of buildings and estates. Moreover, CLP and HK Electric are going to provide the electricity consumption during the event to indicate the campaign effectiveness.

The No Air Con Night 2017 Turn-off Ceremony is held at Central & Western District Promenade – Central Section (near Tamar Park) this year. The guest of Honour Mr. SHUN Chi Ming, JP (Director, HK Observatory) share that climate change is imminent: “The first step of energy saving is turning off the air con. We must act now to reduce the carbon emission.” Green Sense president Mr. LAI ming-chuen also stated that: “Hong Kong No Air Con Night aims to arouse people to rethink their life style. Director of HK Observatory Mr. Shun reminded us that the importance of saving energy from the increasing electricity consumption. We can increase people’s awareness and influence our neighbour by turning off the air con and stopping discharge hot air to outdoor.”

After the Turn-off Ceremony, the public event “Energetic Night at Waterfront” will be held for all to enjoy the “Low carbon” promenade and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. We bring out the message of climate change through different activities, and call for people’s action in daily life to protect our planet Earth. At night-time, a hundred of people enjoy Fitness Thai Boxing and Yoga class on lawn, Moonlight Orienteering and Stargazing activities. We encourage participant to bring reusable tools and avoid disposable materials, to reduce carbon emission, solid waste and plastic waste at the same time.

Part of the Celebrity List :

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

Prof. Joseph SUNG Jao Yiu (Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese 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. HO Kin Chung (Dean, Science & Technology, The Open University of HK)

Dr. Edward Yiu Chung-yim (Scholar in Planning and Surveying)

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

Mr. SHUN Chi Ming, JP (Director, HK Observatory)

Mr. SIT Wing Hang, Alfred, JP (Dir of Electrical & Mechanical Services/Gen Mgr)

Mr. LAI Hon Chung, Harry, JP (Dep Dir of Electrical & Mechanical Services/Regulatory Services)

Hon. Kwok Ka-ki

Hon. IP Kin-yuen

Hon. CHAN Hak-kan, BBS, JP

Hon. KWOK Wai-keung

Hon. OR Chong-shing, Wilson, MH

Dr. Hon. Pierre Chan

Hon. WU Chi-wai, MH

Hon. Charles Peter MOK, JP

Hon. CHUNG Kwok-pan

Hon. WONG Ting-kwong, SBS, JP

Hon. Alice MAK Mei-kuen, BBS, JP

Hon. YIU Si-wing, BBS

More information can be viewed at http://greensense.org.hk/noaircon

Moreover, we would have a public event “Energetic Night at Waterfront”- including Fitness Thai Boxing and Yoga class on lawn, Moonlight Orienteering and Stargazing activities at the same venue after the kick-off ceremony. We sincerely invite you to turn off the air con and go out with us on the “Energetic Night at Waterfront.” Let’s enjoy and relax in the sea breeze together!

Date：29/09/2017

Venue：Central & Western District Promenade – Central Section
(near Tamar Park)

Time：17:00 -21:00

Activities Rundown

17:00 – 18:00 Kick-off Ceremony

18:30 – 20:45 Moonlight Orienteering

19:00 – 19:45 Sports on Lawn : Fitness Thai boxing

20:00 – 20:45 Sports on Lawn : Yoga

19:30 – 21:00 Waterfront Stargazing

Enrollment and details：http://greensense.org.hk/noaircon

To accede the “Paris Agreement”, Environment Bureau announced “Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2030+”, aiming at reducing carbon emission in absolute value as well as per capita. To achieve, we all need to be environmentally aware and take action to change. Energy generation is the number one source of greenhouse gases emission. Air conditioning accounts for 30% of all electricity use annually and at least 60% during summer in Hong Kong. Less use of air con matters in lowering emissions. Back in 2004, the indoor temperature at 25.5 degree Celsius were promoted by the Government to arouse the importance in wise use of air con.

The 8th “Hong Kong No Air Con Night” is a territory-wide energy saving campaign to promote the wise use of air conditioning. Participants are suggested to turn off the air con at home from 7pm 29th Sept to the next morning at 7am. Green Sense hope to bring out the importance in reducing greenhouse gases and saving energy through this event. Rethinking the use of electricity and wise use of resources are highlighted.

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 80,000 households joined and turned off the air conditioning at home and hostels last year.

Public members are encouraged to shake off the dependency on air conditioning. In order to enjoy the air-con free outdoor environment with natural breeze, “Energetic Night at Waterfront”, a series of free activities are held at Central & Western District Promenade – Central Section (near Tamar Park), including:

1. Moonlight Orienteering
2. Sports on Lawn : Fitness Thai boxing
3. Sports on Lawn : Yoga
4. Waterfront Stargazing