HK3030 Energy Saving Charter (Education Sector)

As Hong Kong continues to grow and develop as a world city, so will the pressure that is placed on its natural environment. Buildings now account for nearly 60% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from electricity alone, by far the leading source of GHG emissions in Hong Kong.

Schools, as the house for our future leaders, are an important group of buildings that shall be managed and transformed to a more sustainable manner. Schools signing this charter demonstrate true leadership by implementing the ambitious policies needed for a real transformation. Leadership in green building represents opportunities to lower operating costs, strengthen environmental management policy, and enhance reputation.

In recognition of the significant impact that Hong Kong’s built environment has on GHG emissions and global climate change, the following schools has vowed to integrate environmental considerations into the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of all our facilities and services as well as to:

• Foster the promotion of awareness of sustainable built environment for students and teaching staff and incorporate the concept of sustainability into various learning experiences;
• Enhance the promotion of energy saving in daily practices, such as notices of switching off unnecessary lighting and electrical appliances;
• Establish a team of green ambassadors to encourage active participation of the young generation in energy saving actions;
• Establish a building energy management committee to periodically review the electricity consumption and management of the school;
• Carry out periodic energy audits to identify cost effective strategies to reduce energy use in existing buildings;
• Based on the results of energy audits to establish achievable energy reduction targets with a view to achieve an overall 30% reduction of electricity consumption from buildings in Hong Kong.