Building professionals and experts are working with the Government to develop a comprehensive and widely accepted green labelling system for benchmarking the environmental performance of Hong Kong's structures.

At the Symposium on Green Building Labelling today, Secretary for Housing, Planning & Lands Michael Suen said there were rising community aspirations for environmentally friendly and sustainable buildings.

"Developers and building professionals have responded positively and have taken steps to adopt green designs, green features and sustainable construction methods," he said.

More building proposals with green features

Mr Suen said the Buildings Department has received an increasing number of building proposals with green features, sparking a healthy trend.

"While the momentum of green building design and construction is gradually building up, a system of positive recognition would further bring market forces into play to promote and sustain this development," Mr Suen said. 

Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa pledged to establish a green building labelling system in his 2001 Policy Address.

A consultancy study was then commissioned by the department in 2002 to draw up a comprehensive environmental performance assessment scheme for buildings.

The study also ties in with a recommendation of the Construction Industry Review Committee three years ago, which urges the industry to construct for excellence.

Labelling scheme promotes buildings' image

"A green building labelling scheme has the potential to bring benefits to various sectors of the community. For developers and building professionals, the scheme provides recognition of their building innovations and brings the added advantage of promoting their image and reputation," Mr Suen said.

For potential homebuyers, the labelling scheme can facilitate the making of more prudent and informed decisions.

"As buildings earmarked as green developments are more likely to be competitive in terms of price, the system will nurture the kind of market forces conducive to the creation of a larger green building stock," he added.

Overseas experience has shown building assessment and labelling schemes help upgrade the general quality of living.

The department's consultant is examining in detail the various assessment systems developed in Hong Kong and overseas. These include the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, the HK Building Environmental Assessment Method and the Intelligent Building Index.

Study to be completed by the end of this year

"The incorporation of green features will also promote energy efficiency, provide better handling of wastes and improve indoor environmental quality which are important for our long-term sustainable development," Mr Suen said.

The consultancy study is expected to be completed by the end of this year, to be followed by wider consultation with stakeholders and building end-users.