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Hong Kong’s green estate
Local developers are increasingly looking to green their properties, and while there’s a long way to go before structures become completely sustainable, there are several eco-friendly residential developments worth considering, says Helen Dalley
‘‘As green issues continue to dominate the global political agenda, David Chan, Divisional Director, Head of Building Consultancy at Knight Frank is confident that the demand for environmentally friendly housing will increase in the city’’
Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities on the planet, offering little green space to residents in its most built-up areas. If you are prepared to locate further away from the main hub, however, you will find developments close to green areas that are environmentally conscious. You don’t have to travel miles to invest in these eco- buildings either, as they can be found in places like Kennedy Town, Quarry Bay and Aldrich Bay, as well as the New Territories and Kowloon.
So what is a green building? David Chan, Divisional Director, Head of Building Consultancy at Knight Frank, says it is important to make the distinction between eco friendly and sustainable structures. “Eco-friendly buildings are those that effectively reduce their impact to the environment and the ecology, hence the term ‘eco’. However, sustainability measures buildings in term of energy use, the carbon footprint, and the building life cycle.”
“To be sustainable, developers need to create a building that has a carbon neutral, or zero rating. Truly sustainable buildings – those having a carbon footprint of zero – currently don’t exist in Hong Kong, but there are some that have received accreditation under the Hong Kong Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) and the Comprehensive Environmental Performance Scheme for Buildings (CEPAS). These are moving toward sustainability but are quite far away from carbon neutral, which is the holy grail of sustainable building.”
The aim of the BEAM Society is to improve the environmental performance of buildings, and educate the Hong Kong community about eco-efficiency and sustainability. Its grading is based on more than 50 criteria, including site planning and layout, design of building and premises, material use and specifications, construction practices, operations and maintenance. BEAM-approved properties are now found all over the region (for the full listing, go to www.hk-beam.org.hk).
Of late, almost every new property is being sold on its eco-friendliness, and it’s interesting to note that this goes not just for residential developments but also for commercial buildings and serviced apartments. In the latter sector Kush is leading the way: everything from the paint used, to the lighting system and toiletries reveal an environmentally responsible approach. Consumers are now paying close attention to the business practices of the companies they put their money into, so clearly it makes sense to go green.
The first Hong Kong property to achieve an ‘Excellent’ BEAM rating upon completion in 2002 was the Parcville in Yuen Long, which consists of 14 low-density residential towers of 13 to 15 storeys. Initiatives include solar powered landscape lighting, rainwater recycling, and a naturally ventilated semi-enclosed car park. The price is right too, as a 609-square-foot apartment here costs HK$1.85 million.
Another property given the thumbs up in the New Territories by BEAM is the Vision City development in Tsuen Wan, where heat reclaimed from the central air-conditioning system is used to heat the indoor swimming pool and condensed water collected from the air-conditioning system is recycled. The adjoining City Walk mall features an 8,000-square-foot vertical garden to help reduce temperatures and provide insulation. An 890-square-foot property here would set you back around HK$5.8 million. Surrounded by green space, Villa by the Park in nearby Shui Pin Wai is also BEAM-approved; HK$1.8 million will buy you a 565-square-foot property.
BEAM approved properties on Hong Kong Island include Ivy on Belchers in Kennedy Town, which has its own sky garden; properties cost around HK$5.4 million for a 752-square-foot flat on a high floor. Also in Kennedy Town is Mount Davis at 33 Ka Wai Man Road, where a 770-square-foot property comes in at around HK$4.9 million. Over at Island East, the Orchards in Quarry Bay (HK$7.45 million for a 799-square-foot flat) and Les Saisons in Aldrich Bay (HK$5.95 million for a 779-square-foot flat) also make the grade.
Asked to provide advice to those looking to buy a green property in the city, Chan says, “Unfortunately there is no green labelling system in Hong Kong so we have no idea about how environmentally friendly the different properties are. The way forward is to have a code that people can benchmark against other properties.” According to Chan, all new homes in the UK and most of the European Union, for example, are required under building regulations to achieve high environmental standards. “The sustainability labelling code is mandatory; most developers will be building at least to minimum code four for homes, with six being carbon neutral.”
So what needs to be done to make our buildings greener here in Hong Kong? Chan recommends better wall insulation, energy efficient double glazing windows, and more energy saving appliances as the first steps towards creating a more environmentally friendly home. “If we can cut energy bills by 30 percent or even 50 percent, that will make a huge impact on the problem of global warming.
“Designs that allow cross ventilation (to reduce the need for air conditioning), natural lighting (to reduce the need to switch on lights), and orientation (again better use of natural light) should also be employed. If we can use recycled seawater in our air-con systems as they have done in the HSBC Building, in Central, then we can cut our energy consumption in half.”
As green issues continue to dominate the global political agenda, Chan is confident that the demand for environmentally friendly housing will increase in the city. “The demand for greener homes is a worldwide trend, and in a few years these houses will no longer be referred to as green but simply a standard home,” he predicts.
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