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Promoting
Energy Efficiency
 There
is a strong need to conserve the earth's resources, ensuring that
we use them with care. The efficient use of energy makes a significant
contribution in this direction, while also generating substantial
cost savings for users. Building on the activities of our Energy
Efficiency Office, we are therefore, now offering our customers
a comprehensive and integrated service to help save energy.
 As
the first step in the process, Energy Audits are carried
out to understand where and how the energy is used and to identify
Energy Management Opportunities or EMOs, to determine
where electricity can be saved. Based on the EMOs identified, a
recommendation for implementation together with the suitable technology
is made. EMOs can range from activities with no capital outlay or
relatively low costs for implementation to substantial capital investment.
The payback period therefore becomes a critical factor when determining
the way forward. Typical payback periods tend to run between 3 -
8 years, though with rapidly advancing technology, equipment costs
are decreasing, in turn reducing payback periods.
With lighting
and air-conditioning accounting for approximately 70% of total energy
usage in commercial buildings, these areas provide the most obvious
scope for savings. The use of slimmer and more energy efficient
fluorescent tubes to replace more traditional fluorescent lighting
can save energy consumption by 10% while the use of electronic ballast
against the conventional magnetic version can save an additional
20 - 30%. Savings in air-conditioning are even more impressive.
The use of variable speed drives which reduce air-flow when the
air-conditioning load is lower, can save up to 50% of the energy
bill when there is a reduction of 20% of air flow.
For
further details of our Energy Efficiency services, please call our
Customer Support Hotline - 2915 6955 or e-mail us at emsdcsu@emsd.gov.hk.
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Conserving
Energy in Hong Kong's Hospitals
 Working
closely with the Hospital Authority, we conducted a series
of in-depth energy audits, identifying EMOs with anticipated
energy savings of around HK$12 million annually. As a result
we are now carrying out energy retrofit work at 13 venues
including hospitals, clinics and the Red Cross Transfusion
Centre. Using state-of-the-art lighting technology, "T5"
fluorescent tubes and electronic ballast, will replace the
"T8" tubes and magnetic ballast currently in use
at the Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and Tuen Mun Hospitals.
Apart from being more energy efficient, the slimmer "T5"
lighting also directs light more exactly where it is needed
and has a longer service life. In the other venues, work is
taking place to replace existing magnetic ballast with electronic
ballast.
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Discussing
EMSD's many activities in this area, Mr. Lam Poon-wah of our
Energy Efficiency Office said:
 "Apart
from our work on Energy Audits and EMOs, the Energy Efficiency
Office also carries out a number of other activities to benefit
the community. Theseinclude the setting up of Guidelines and
Codes of Practice for energy efficiency on buildings, promoting
an energy efficiency labeling scheme for electric household
appliances as well as the compilation of an Energy End-use
Database. We also work closely with the power utilities, both
monitoring and coordinating activities such as the implementation
of Demand Side Management programmes, which help to manage
and anticipate public demand for electricity."
"We
also conduct regular studies and pilot trials in the conservation
of electricity - for example the recent introduction of the
pilot scheme for the wider user of fresh water supplies in
water-cooled air-conditioning systems will take Hong Kong
a major step forward in energy conservation. We are also actively
involved in energy benchmarking studies and in establishing
a database in this area, providing valuable data both in the
use and projected use of energy in varying conditions. Additionally,
feasibility studies into renewable energy - solar and wind
energy, tidal power as well as waste incineration energy plants,
will help point the way for Hong Kong's energy direction in
the future."
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