ENERGY IN BUILDINGS IN HONG KONG - A LESSON FOR THE MAINLAND

This paper discusses how the consumption pattern of occupants and architectural design of buildingsaffect the building energy consumption. An overview of the building energy consumptions in Hong Kongis presented. Electricity consumption data in Hong Kong may have resulted in various indications andestimates of the inevitable growth in electricity demand. The growth rate varies in different sectors anddepends on the end-use pattern together with the economic activity. The increasing standard of livingcauses greater need of resources and sometimes may lead to abusive consumptions. In the lastdecade, the electricity consumption by the commercial sector increased by 52%. Not only theexpansion of property market enabled the growth, but the mode of consumption and the architecturalstyles also brought the tremendous consumption. The community tends to chill the indoor environmentfar below the sensible temperature to avoid complaints in offices and shopping malls, and somebuildings are illuminated 24 hours a day for decoration purpose. Wealth enables greater demand ofenergy while at the same time ignores the impact to the environment. However, the technologicaladvancements in lighting, building materials and the space conditioning system partially compensatethe surge of consumption. China is one of the worlds most rapidly developing economies and thecommunity is looking for higher standard of living.