PAQS Sustainability Committee – Information on Green Buildings
Reported by the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors
1. Green buildings assessment system adopted
The predominant green building assessment systems in Hong Kong are as follows: BEAM Plus New Buildings1
 BEAM Plus Existing Buildings2
 BEAM Plus Interiors3
 BEAM Plus Neighbourhood4

2. Statutory requirements on the following elements of green buildings
For building envelope: Building (Energy Efficiency) Regulations and Code of Practice for Overall Thermal Transfer
Value in Buildings 19955 for office and commercial buildings Guidelines on Design and Construction Requirements for Energy Efficiency of Residential
Buildings 20146
 Practice Note for Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and Registered
Geotechnical Engineers (APP-151) - Building Design to Foster a Quality and Sustainable Built
Environment7
 Practice Note for Authorized Persons, Registered Structural Engineers and Registered
Geotechnical Engineers (APP-152) – Sustainable Building Design Guidelines8
For building energy:
 Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance Code of Practice for Energy Efficiency of Building Services Installation 20159
 Code of Practice for Building Energy Audit 201510
For water conservation: “Let’s Save 10L Water Campaign”11 (non-statutory)
For waste reduction:
 Product Eco-responsibility (Amendment) Ordinance 201412 and Product Eco-responsibility(Plastic Shopping Bags) Regulations13
1

https://www.hkgbc.org.hk/eng/NB_Intro.aspx
https://www.hkgbc.org.hk/eng/EB_Intro.aspx
3
https://www.hkgbc.org.hk/eng/BI_Intro.aspx
4
https://www.hkgbc.org.hk/eng/ND_Intro.aspx
5
https://www.bd.gov.hk/english/documents/code/e_ottv.htm
6https://www.bd.gov.hk/english/documents/code/e_ottv.htm
7https://www.bd.gov.hk/doc/en/resources/codes-and-references/practice-notes-and-circularletters/pnap/APP/APP151.pdf
8
https://www.bd.gov.hk/doc/en/resources/codes-and-references/practice-notes-and-circularletters/pnap/APP/APP152.pdf
9https://www.emsd.gov.hk/beeo/en/pee/BEC_2015.pdf
10https://www.emsd.gov.hk/beeo/en/pee/EAC_2015.pdf
11https://waterconservation.hk/en/main.html
12https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/sites/default/files/epd/epd/PER_A_O2014_e2.pdf
13
https://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/sites/default/files/epd/epd/CAP_603A_e_b5.pdf
2Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal (Electrical Equipment and Electronic Equipment)(Amendment) Ordinance 201614
Promotion of Recycling and Proper Disposal (Product Container) (Amendment) Bill 201515
Municipal Solid Waste Charging Scheme (expected to be implemented in 2019)

For indoor air quality:
 Air Pollution Control Ordinance Guidance Notes for the Management of Indoor Air Quality in Offices and Public Places 200316(non-statutory)

3. Government incentives for providing new green buildings and existing green buildings
For new buildings, the HKSAR Government provides gross floor area (GFA) concession scheme forprivate developers to invest in innovative and green new buildings. Green features, which adopt aholistic life cycle approach, maximise renewable resources and green materials, reduce
construction waste and minimise the energy consumption, are exempted from gross floor area
calculations. The concession is currently capped at 10% of the total gross floor area of thedevelopment. At this moment, the amount of GFA concession is same for all projects even though
they achieve different green building assessment ratings.
With effect from 1 January 2018, new or existing buildings that have achieved Final Bronze rating
or above under BEAM Plus are eligible to register under the Energy Efficiency Registration Schemefor Buildings. Capital expenditure incurred in respect of renewable energy and efficient building
installations is allowed for tax deduction to be claimed in full in one year instead of the current
time frame of five years.
The two local power supply companies, CLP Power and HK Electric, have set up the “CLP Eco
Building Fund” and “HK Electric Smart Power Fund” to subsidise residential buildings and ancillaryfacilities to carry out energy efficiency enhancement works.

4. Quantity Surveyors' involvement in green buildings

Cost and benefit analysis of green features
Life cycle costing analysis

5. Useful links relating to green buildings
Useful links are indicated in the relevant footnotes.

6. Updated developments of green buildings

14

The HKSAR Government has appointed a consultant to review the gross floor area (GFA)
concession scheme for green buildings.
The Council for Sustainable Development, established by the HKSAR Government for thepromotion of sustainability in Hong Kong, is undertaking a public engagement exercise on
the “Long-term Decarbonisation Strategy”.17

http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr15-16/english/ord/ord003-2016-e.pdf
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr14-15/english/bills/b201507033.pdf
16
http://www.iaq.gov.hk/media/8745/gn_eng.pdf
17
https://www.susdev.org.hk/en/index.php
15



Besides climate change, there is a wide discussion on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
promoted by the United Nations.18

Drafted by Dr Paul HK Ho
For QSD, the HKIS

18

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/