Motivations to Go “Green”

Sun Hung Kai Centre's core corporate culture of Quality, Speed and Efficiency provides top quality services, within the shortest feasible time, with the most efficient resources. It incorporates sustainable and environmental protection practices in alignment with the Paris Agreement signed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). To reduce greenhouse gas emissions is a worldwide goal. As a subsidy of Sun Hung Kai Properties, a leading developer in Hong Kong, S.H.K. Real Estate Management Company Ltd. bears the social responsibility to contribute towards this goal and to benefit society and the environment.  

Strategies to Achieve BEAM Plus Grading

Sun Hung Kai sees the achievement of BEAM Plus grading and enhanced sustainability as a combination of art and science. BEAM Plus helps us to define goals, develop action plans and showcase “green” performance.

Energy efficient technology utilized includes:

1. Intelligent Building Automation;

To use less energy and reduce CO₂ emissions with high control accuracy.

2. Variable air volume (VAV) system;

To enable individual adjustment of room temperature at the time it’s needed and to avoid the energy waste of any overcooling or overheating.

3. Internet of Things (IoT);

To obtain a large amount of data with a cloud-based system for analysis, consuming minimal energy.

To present the data and arrive at conclusions, we record and analyze the electricity consumption, do project base studies and have a systematic document control following the criteria of the Energy Management System.

Main Obstacles of Sustainable Practices

As a 40-year-old building, earning all the credits of BEAM Plus is not as easy to Sun Hung Kai Centre as some other younger buildings. The existing automation system was no longer compatible with today’s operations. Moreover, energy efficiency has become very popular since the late 90s. To keep up with the times and worldwide trend, Sun Hung Kai Centre took the initiative to implement a comprehensive self-monitoring system, retro-commissioning, which identified and corrected the building deficiencies for optimum energy use and hence lower energy bills, improve indoor environment and reduce carbon footprint. The cost saved can fund the development of other sustainability schemes such as modernizing existing lifts, food waste recycling program etc. To encourage all levels of employees to offer ideas on improving the quality and efficiency of operations, an Innovative Suggestion Scheme Competition is organized every year. Environmental training is also regularly provided to tenants and employees of different levels with the aim of turning their environmental awareness into individual action.

Key Project Success

BEAM Plus acknowledges our sustainability performance relating to planning, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of Sun Hung Kai Centre. Being certified by BEAM Plus benefits different parties. The owner and the management can adopt BEAM Plus as an established benchmark to recognize and continue the “green” practice of Sun Hung Kai Centre and to create a strong narrative to pitch to potential international tenants. Tenants can use BEAM Plus as a trusted source when evaluating the building. As a major influential skyscraper in Hong Kong, achieving BEAM Plus grading allows Sun Hung Kai Centre to serve as a role model to contribute to the well-being of the society and the environment.