Portfolio Approach in Green Building Certification

Abstract

Hong Kong has over 9,000 high-rise buildings, of which over 1,500 are skyscrapers standing taller than 100m with 350 buildings over 150m. These buildings contribute to about 60% of the total carbon emissions of Hong Kong, therefore in Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2030+, existing building energy saving is one key focus where potential for energy saving is very significant. However, it is often difficult for existing building especially aged buildings to undergo green transformation due to the existing site constraint such as space and capital limitation and at the same time requiring continuous operation of the building. This paper presents a case study of a portfolio of high-rise buildings and comprehensive building development with buildings ranging from 60 to less than 5 years in operation, situated in the most densely populated commercial district in Hong Kong undergone a "Green Body Check", benchmarking using Hong Kong's Green Building accreditation - BEAM Plus for Existing Building and identified appropriate green measures to improve its performance. The aim of the developer is not only trying to reduce the carbon emission of its portfolio, but to lead by example and showcasing the impact to the portfolio but also to the tenants and beyond. This study aims to highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and benchmarking, adopting green building accreditation as a framework in evaluating the existing performance and effectively identify improvement measures. Lastly to appreciate major players in the building industry to lead and drive the industry greener and more sustainable in order to tackle the global climate change crisis.