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

The tour started from the ZCB. With detailed explanations from the staff, we were able to identify the serious consequences of climate change – a rise in temperature and extreme weather conditions becoming more common. As an international metropolis, Hong Kong has developed her own building strategies and green technologies to combat environmental problems.  Some of them were introduced in situ to reduce electricity and resources consumption of buildings: Smart-plug systems to monitor household and building electricity use, variable air volume system installed on the floor for cooling, and virtual reality softwares to replace conventional building design procedures. We also had a chance to test out several locally developed technologies.

Our next stop was the EMSD Headquarters building, which showcases various features of a green building. These include, apart from greening of the façade, solar panels, sunpipes and motion sensing lights that replace conventional lighting, double-layered glass windows for heat insulation, district cooling systems which use sea water as a coolant to replace traditional air conditioning, etc. The Headquarters, without a doubt, serve as an example and encouragement to transform Hong Kong into a low-carbon city.

Climate change is a pressing menace that simply cannot be neglected. Hong Kong, however, has yet to embrace environmental-friendly measures, and is thus to blame for contributing hugely to carbon emissions and aggravating global warming. As a response, the government has launched Hong Kong Climate Action Plan 2030+, which states that the ultimate goal is to reduce emission for 65% to 70% relative to 2005 levels by 2030. To achieve the target, the city will need efforts from the authorities to implement green energy policies and better town planning, efforts from various sectors to incorporate green concepts in building designs, most importantly, efforts from the public to keep up a more low-carbon, energy-efficient lifestyle.

To see highlights of the tour, please click: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm29wnti