2020-09-01

[Press Release] Hong Kong Green Building Council’s Response to TVB Pearl Magazine Episode titled “Seeing Green” Broadcast on 24 August 2020

Hong Kong, 1 September 2020 – In response to the TVB Pearl Magazine episode titled “Seeing Green” which was broadcast on 24 August 2020, the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) would like to clarify the following points:
 
  1. Comprehensiveness of BEAM Plus rating system
    BEAM Plus is a comprehensive rating system to assess the sustainability performance of buildings.  Similar to other international rating tools, energy is only one of the assessment aspects. BEAM Plus also takes account of other important aspects such as indoor environmental quality, site planning, water use, materials and waste, etc. Details could be found in HKGBC’s website https://www.hkgbc.org.hk/eng/beam-plus/beam-plus-new-buildings/
     
  2. Assessment schemes for New Buildings and Existing Buildings 
    BEAM Plus rating tools are divided into New Buildings (NB) and Existing Buildings (EB).  The rating of NB is based on assessment of the design, construction process and the final as-built conditions of the buildings. After completion, the buildings’ operation in sustainability would be assessed under BEAM Plus EB which is also comprehensive in rating. Thus, indoor temperature is not the only factor to justify a BEAM Plus rating.
     
  3. Not a pure paper exercise
    BEAM Plus rating system is not a pure paper exercise as the assessment looks for not only a plan but also implementation evidence.  
     
  4. Gross Floor Area (GFA) Concession
    Regarding the GFA concession mechanism, HKGBC stays ready to cooperate with the Government to continually enhance the system.
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About the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC)
The Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited (HKGBC) is a non-profit, member-led organisation established in 2009 with the vision to aspire for quality and sustainability at every stage of the building life cycle and embrace these principles as a mark of excellence. The Founding Members of HKGBC include the Construction Industry Council (CIC), Business Environment Council (BEC), the BEAM Society Limited (BSL) and the Professional Green Building Council (PGBC). Its mission is to lead the market transformation to a sustainable built environment in Hong Kong by guiding the development of industry standards, best practices, education, and research in Green building.
 
To learn more about the HKGBC, please visit www.hkgbc.org.hk
 
Press Contacts 
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Hong Kong Green Building Council
Heidi Hui

Head of Marketing
Phone:(852) 3994 8833
Email:heidi.hui@hkgbc.org.hk
 


Regine LEE
Marketing & PR Manager
Phone: (852) 3994 8832
Email:regine.lee@hkgbc.org.hk