Built Environment
With 60% of Hong Kong’s carbon emissions produced by powering skyscrapers, the city has laid out a 40% energy intensity reduction target by 2025. There is a broad spectrum of opportunities to assimilate UK resources to support Hong Kong with this goal – from technological innovations, professional services, to the optimisation of renewable energy and implementation of green architecture.
The UK is a world leader in energy decarbonisation with 51.6% of our electricity coming from low carbon sources in 2019. Bioenergy and new capacity in wind, solar and hydro power make us an ideal place for long term investment. The UK is investing in low carbon technologies and processes to make breakthrough discoveries every day and lead the transition to a low carbon economy.
The UK has a lot to offer in transforming Hong Kong into a greener built environment and promoting sustainable infrastructure. The UK’s world class expertise and capabilities – creative and technical – cover the following key services: master-planning and urban design, green architecture, sustainable building design, building retrofit design and strategy, sustainable facilities management and operations, BIM and digital construction technologies
UK Industry Snapshot
- No. 1for the most offshore wind generated in the world.
- No. 1 in sustainable real estate with over 3,000 green-rated buildings in London.
- 1stto develop an internationally recognised building sustainability assessment – BREEAM.
- €13bn invested in wind energy and the leading European investment destination (2020).
- 52.8% of electricity powered by low-carbon sources (2018) and achieved over 3,700 hours of coal free generation (2019).
Case Study
Hong Kong Children Hospital has recently won the Quality Excellence Award and the Grand Award of Hong Kong non-residential category at the Quality Building Award 2020 (presented on June 2021).
Behind the design and build was UK consultancy firm, Cundall, who won the tender stage design competition and was appointed to provide sustainability and BEAM consultancy services during the contract stage of the project. The project is the first Hong Kong hospital to receive BEAM Platinum rating.
Energy White Paper
The energy white paper builds on the Prime Minister’s Ten point plan for a green industrial revolution.
The white paper addresses the transformation of our energy system, promoting high-skilled jobs and clean, resilient economic growth as we deliver net-zero emissions by 2050.
Company Spotlight
Anthesis Group
Anthesis is the Sustainability Activator. We are the largest group of dedicated sustainability experts in the world: a team of 600+ people, working across seventeen countries, to serve more than 1000 clients.
We exist to shape a more productive and resilient world by helping organisations transition to new models of sustainable performance.
Our team combines broad and deep sustainability expertise with the commercial and operational capabilities to deliver real change.
Arup
Arup is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, architects, consultants and technical specialists, working across every aspect of today’s built environment. We have made a commitment to contribute meaningfully to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, creating shared value for our clients and our communities while safeguarding our planet. We apply our expertise, diversity of thinking and independence in the quest for a safe, sustainable and resilient future.
Cundall
As a multi-disciplinary engineer, we take our responsibility to minimise the environmental impact of everything we do very seriously. That means integrating environmental considerations into our solutions to encompass everything from transport and energy use, to how people will use buildings.
We are proud to be one of the first consultancy in the world to achieve Carbon Neutral certification by The Carbon Trust.
Eckersley O'Callaghan
At Eckersley O’Callaghan, we are committed to help tackle the Climate Emergency and promot low carbon building design through structural and façade engineering. From using carbon trackers to promote sustainable building materials, to holistic approaches to facade and glass design, improving the sustainability of buildings is embedded into our core engineering values. We have pledged to keep the momentum in advancing the construction industry towards a low-carbon future.
Environmental Street Furniture Ltd
Environmental Street Furniture design and supply sustainable and renewable source outdoor commercial furniture. Products include solar powered cell phone charging benches and stations, LED solar illuminated and litter bins and compacting trash cans, recycled plastic benches, picnic tables, planters, bins, fencing and much more. All products can be customised to suit clients needs whilst maintaining sustainable and renewable focus.
Mott MacDonald Hong Kong Limited
We are committed to making a positive difference by delivering sustainable outcomes in all of our activities and to continuously improve our performance. Sustainability holistically considers the economic, environmental, social and cultural aspects of sustainable development and is about using our ingenuity to deliver lasting value for all.
Polysolar Limited
Polysolar is an award winning Cleantech business producing transparent solar PV glass. Polysolar manufactures innovative Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) solutions with solar glass for carports, canopies, building façades, skylights and urban infrastructure. Polysolar’s unique technology solutions is already being deployed worldwide to meet the growing demand for localised energy generation and energy efficient buildings and infrastructure. Our solar glazing can replace installing standard glazing no matter the application.
Meet Our Sector Lead
Tony Yu
Associate Director, Infrastructure (Construction & Rail)
Tony heads up the sectors of railway, construction and infrastructure, promoting the UK’s excellence and capabilities in those sectors and strengthening the business relationships between the UK and Hong Kong. Tony is also part of the inward investment team in DIT Hong Kong promoting real estate and property investment and development in the UK. He was awarded an MBE in 2020 for his long standing and dedicated services to UK’s business.