Today is Green Sense “No Air Con Night”. This annual energy saving event aims to promote green practices and encourage people to bear the responsibility as a member of the earth village.

To call for more “low carbon” actions, such as wisely use of air con and energy, less meat, more vegetables and less food miles, select second-hand clothes and upcycle, walk more and drive less, we presented “low-carbon” habits at the mini game booth in last month, in relating the actions to the arctic iceberg and polar bears.

We believe the general public may rethink their daily lives and carbon emission. The extended “very hot” days after the mid-autumn festival are the signs of global warming. It cannot be eased by staying at air-conditioned indoor all day and night. Instead, air-con-free cooling methods can be applied at household.

This year we continue to promote the idea of “Turning off the air con when the outdoor temperature is below 27 degree Celsius”. Let “No Air Con Night” be a connection to the nature, to let us feel the weather and seasons’ change, in order to tackle the climate change and global warming.

Until 7th Oct 2022, over 80 thousand households have signed up for “No Air Con Night 2022”! This year, with the significant support from 11 Universities and Higher Education Institutes, and 353 Schools (including 70 Secondary Schools, 123 Primary Schools and 149 Kindergartens), thousands of students, staff and parents have the chance to understand the importance in saving energy and the practice of green lifestyles. Some schools also held different kinds of energy saving activities in response to this campaign, including fun video produced by students echoing No Air Con Night.

Moreover, 274 companies and organizations have pledged to join “No Air Con Night 2022”. Over 1200 buildings and housing estates have called for the support from their colleagues, residents and tenants, and some of the property management offices to turn off the air con. They posted No Air Con Night posters and display the paperless promotion on the e-panels.

It is our honour to gain the generous support from the Hong Kong Observatory and Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, and having dozens of Government departments and related organizations, such as Auxiliary Medical Service, Buildings Department, Government Property Agency, Hong Kong Customs & Excise Department. Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Hongkong Post, Information Services Department, Labour Department, Lands Department, Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority, Office of the Communications Authority, Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong, Securities and Futures Commission., hospitals under Hospital Authority are actively promoting our event to their Civil Servant teams.

We are also grateful to have Futou Annie dance and chord for “No Air Con” theme song, from her famous song “夏日熱辣辣” with lyrics re-written. The videos have been published on the social media these weeks.

Meanwhile, a Chinese slogan writing competition about “No Air Con Night” was held last month. 628 writings were received in total. Creative ideas about keeping cool and the global warming situation were addressed. The key message from many of them were ”Energy saving”& “Take eco-action”.

Celebrities of different sectors have supported “No Air Con Night 2022”, including:

w   Dr. CHENG Cho Ming (Director of HK Observatory)

w   Mr. SHUN Chi Ming (Former Director of HK Observatory)

w   Mr. LAM Chiu Ying (Former Director of HK Observatory)

w   Mr. LEUNG Wing Mo (Former Assistant Director of HK Observatory)

w   Futou Annie (Musician)

w   per se (Hong Kong Music Band)

w   Miss Cecilia CHOI (Actress)

w   Miss SHAM Lok Yi(Actress)

w   Mr. MOK Ho Kwong (Founder of Natural Network)

In the previous decade, “No Air Con Night” ceremonies were held in an outdoor air-con-free venue. Even the ceremony cannot be held due to the pandemic for the 3^rd year, we believe more and more people value fresh air and air-con-free outdoor environment with natural breezing.

More details about the event: http://greensense.org.hk/noaircon

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

“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/