HK to complete its first 'carbon neutral' building

Edited and translated by People's Daily Online

In order to demonstrate the most advanced environmentally-friendly architectural design and technologies and improve residents' knowledge of low-carbon and sustainable lifestyle, the first “zero carbon building” of Hong Kong was jointly constructed by the Hong Kong Construction Industry Council and Hong Kong government, which will be completed and put into service in 2012.

The “zero carbon building,” built with an investment of 240 million H. K. dollars, adopted 90 top-class carbon reduction and energy conservation technologies. It will generate electricity by using renewable energies, such as bio-diesel and solar energy. The building will be able to not only satisfy its own energy need but also transfer the extra energy into the public power grid. Its energy utilization ratio will be higher than 70 percent.

Director of the Special Zero Carbon Building Group under the Hong Kong Construction Industry Council Yu Hui Wei said about 70 percent of the power of the “zero carbon building” will be generated by the bio-diesel and the rest 30 percent will be generated by solar energy.

Yu said the building will be able to supply 80 megawatts of electric power to the public power grid on average. After the building is completed, it will reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 8,250 tons in 50 years.