Energy efficiency in Macau, Hong Kong

Energy efficiency in Macau, Hong Kong

During the “Energy-Saving, Emission-Reduction and Carbon Trading Symposium” held Friday, as part of the ongoing 2009MIECF, Arnaldo Ernesto dos Santos, director of Office for the Development of the Energy Sector and Katherine M. Y. Choi, principal assistant Secretary for the Environment Bureau in Hong Kong, respectively introduced work on promoting energy conservation and expanding energy efficiency in the two regions.

Santos addressed issues on energy and said that the final energy types are electricity, kerosene, gas oil and diesel, and gasoline, and the largest consumers of energy are transportation and tourism and service industries.

The director of the Office for the Development of the Energy Sector said that his office's main objectives are to ensure the safety and stability of clean energy supply at a reasonable price. To this end, the diversification of energy, infrastructure modernisation and the deepening of regional co-operation would play important roles, he added.

In addition, Santos stressed that Macau has actively promoted energy conservation and efficiency in recent years by educating the public, promoting new technologies in public and private sectors, and creating legal frameworks and standards.

His office is researching on guidelines for public lighting and construction of building, and regulations for price signal, energy labels, vehicles emissions and power plant emissions.

Meanwhile, Katherine Choi, said that almost 90 percent of Hong Kong’s electricity consumption is building-related, since the neighbouring SAR is full of high-rise buildings.

The Hong Kong government is now preparing a legislative proposal aiming to introducing the mandatory implementation of Building Energy Codes (BEC), which covers lighting, air-conditioning, electrical, and lift and escalator.

“With the widely-developed energy-efficient technologies in the past decade, promoting energy efficiency becomes one of the most cost-effective measures to address the issue of climate change,” she said.

She also said the active collaborations of the government, business sectors and the general community in promoting energy efficiency would bring us a greener and sustainable future.

Sunday, 05 April 2009
Macau Daily Times