The Housing Authority's Choi Ming Shopping Centre has been successfully registered under the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department's Energy Efficiency Registration Scheme for Buildings.

Located in Tseung Kwan O, the seven-storey centre is Hong Kong's first building to comply with the Performance-based Building Energy Code. Its successful registration under the scheme by adopting the code marks a milestone in improving a building's energy efficiency.

The department will enhance the code's promotion to the building industry through seminars and meetings. More buildings adopting the code are expected.

Efficiency enhanced through innovative design

Enhancing energy efficiency through innovative building design is one of the Housing Department's key objectives, and is in line with the code's spirit.

Completed in July, Choi Ming Shopping Centre adopted energy-efficient designs, such as computerised chiller control, optimised lighting, highly-efficient motors, lifts and escalators.

By complying with the code, the centre has achieved an estimated annual electricity saving of 10% or 140,000 kWh. In environmental terms, the annual saving can translate into an annual reduction of 120 tonnes of carbon-dioxide emissions.

Overall energy performance emphasised

Launched a year ago, the Performance-based Building Energy Code encourages a holistic approach to building design to cater for total building energy requirements. It emphasises the overall energy performance achieved by innovative energy saving designs, rather than individual adoption of prescribed energy -aving measures under the four conventional codes on lighting, air-conditioning, electrical installations, and lifts and escalators.

The code also provides guidance to building designers while leaving them with ample flexibility to nurture original and creative ideas to achieve energy efficiency and cost savings, thereby contributing to the ultimate goal of protecting the environment.