Hong Kong Green Building Week 2015 Ushers Hong Kong in Green Building Era

HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 2 September 2015 - Today the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) kicked off the Hong Kong Green Building Week 2015 (HKGBW 2015) at the Launching Ceremony held at iSQUARE, Tsim Sha Tsui. Now in its third edition, HKGBW 2015 is more exciting than ever, receiving support from more than 100 organisations.

Photo : Mr WONG Kam-sing, JP, Secretary for the Environment, Ir LEE Shing-see, GBS, OBE, JP, Chairman of the CIC  and Ir Conrad WONG Tin-cheung, BBS, JP, Chairman of the HKGBC led the representatives of partners, some of the supporting organisations and participants of HKGBW 2015 programmes to make a pledge to promote the ideas of green building and green living to the people around them

Fully supported by the Environment Bureau, HKGBW 2015 is taking place from 2 to 16 September in collaboration with various NGOs, student groups, social enterprises and many corporations of various sizes. Mr WONG Kam-sing, JP, Secretary for the Environment, officiated at the Launching Ceremony of HKGBW 2015, alongside Ir LEE Shing-see, GBS, OBE, JP, Chairman of the CIC, and Ir Conrad WONG Tin-cheung, BBS, JP, Chairman of the HKGBC. During the ceremony, the officiating guests led the representatives of partners, some of the supporting organisations and participants of HKGBW 2015 programmes to make a pledge to promote the ideas of green building and green living to the people around them.

 

Granting his full support to the HKGBW 2015, Ir LEE Shing-see of CIC said, "Today, green buildings and sustainable development form part of the global trend. As such, CIC strives to set good examples and offer support for the local industry players. Public support and participation are indispensable in building a green, low carbon city. Through HKGBW 2015, we hope to promote the importance of green building and green living to everyone in Hong Kong, and drive the development of local construction industry."

 

Ir Conrad WONG Tin-cheung of HKGBC also believed the HKGBW 2015 would help enhance the awareness of green building among industry players and the public. "We are delighted that over 100 organisations and corporations are supporting the HKGBW 2015. Our five programmes are carefully designed to involve all walks of life in order to instil the spirit of green building and green living in the public. I hope the public will share our vision and support local green building development, thus helping to protect the environment."

 

This year, the HKGBW 2015 also echoes the Energy Saving Plan for Hong Kong's Built Environment 2015~2025+ recently launched by the Environment Bureau. In the HKGBW TV promotional video, the Environment Bureau's super star Big Waster is invited to join the HKGBW Mascot to call for office workers' support in the Biz-Green Dress Day on 16 September, and promote together green building and energy saving.

 

The Green Photo Contest Award Presentation was held right after the Launching Ceremony to commend the winners of the Green Photo Contest (Open Section), one of the HKGBW 2015 programmes. The contest this year put emphasis on the delicate connection between humans and buildings to highlight the people-oriented architectural design of green buildings. The judging panel, formed by representatives of the organisers and the partner Hong Kong Photographic Society, has selected 16 outstanding pieces: the Gold, Silver, Bronze, Merit Awards and Finalists. The Gold Award went to "Summer at Citygate" (translation of《東薈迎夏日》) by Mr Bens YIM. The photo captured the moment when a group of children frolicked around a fountain outside the Citygate, a green building that has achieved the HK-BEAM 5/04 for Existing Buildings Platinum rating, portraying how green buildings can bring happiness to city dwellers. All winning entries are exhibited on the third floor of iSQUARE from now until 8 September.

 

HKGBW 2015 is also building up momentum for another major green building event in the second half of the year. Fully supported by the World Green Building Council, CIC and HKGBC will host the WorldGBC Congress 2015 in Hong Kong between 27 and 31 October. The event is expecting more than 500 green building experts at home and abroad to discuss the development of green buildings and set out directions for the sustainable development of cities in the future.

 

Image Photo : Mr WONG Kam-sing, JP, Secretary for the Environment, Ir LEE Shing-see, GBS, OBE, JP, Chairman of the CIC  and Ir Conrad WONG Tin-cheung, BBS, JP, Chairman of the HKGBC led the representatives of partners, some of the supporting organisations and participants of HKGBW 2015 programmes to make a pledge to promote the ideas of green building and green living to the people around themhttp://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/3615

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Appendix: Hong Kong Green Building Week 2015 Programmes

 

Programmes	Timeframe	Details
Biz-Green Dress Day	16 September	Launched three years ago, Biz-Green Dress Day encourages office workers to dress lighter and turn the thermostat up to save energy, and has been supported by many corporations and organisations. This year's Biz-Green Dress Day introduces a web-based photo game that collects participants' Biz-Green looks through the Biz-Green mobile app. On Biz-Green Dress Day, the HKGBW Mascot and Big Waster will visit organisations which are most supportive in the photo game.
Green Photo Contest	Open Section Award Presentation 2 September Exhibition 2 to 8 September   Family Section From now to 16 September	Green Photo Contest features the Open Section and the Family Section. In the Open Section, participants are invited to capture still images at designated green buildings in Hong Kong while discovering the delicate relationship between these buildings and day-to-day life through the camera. For the Family Section, the public are encouraged to share some green tips that are useful in daily life.
Green Building Ideas Pitch	Green Building Ideas Pitching Event   5 September	The programme attracted a number of good ideas to build a greener Hong Kong when it was introduced last year. This two-month business incubation programme is making a comeback this year. Green building professionals, entrepreneurs and social enterprise thought leaders will guide the participants throughout the programme, helping them develop business acumen, unleash their creativity and formulate feasible green business plans.
Mini LegCo and Youth Forum	12 September	Mini LegCo and Youth Forum is now in its third edition, opening to all secondary school students in Hong Kong. The participating students have honed their team spirit, public speaking skills and knowledge in green building during the workshops in the summer vacation. On 12 September, the students will play the roles of LegCo President, LegCo Members and Government Officials at a mock LegCo motion debate about green building issues. This will be followed by a "Dialogue with the Secretary" session in which the students will meet Mr WONG Kam-sing, JP, Secretary for the Environment, and Mr Eric MA Siu-cheung, JP, Under Secretary for Development.
Grow Green, Live Green Potted Plant Cultivation Programme	Potted Plant Cultivation Workshop 3 September Household Visit by Volunteer Team 6 September	The new programme "Grow Green, Live Green" Potted Plant Cultivation Programme encourages the public to grow plants at home for a more pleasant living environment. Participants will learn how to grow plants and experience the joy of planting. After the planting workshop, the participants will form a volunteer team to visit grassroot families, bringing along some edible plants as gifts. They will also share with the families some planting tips.

 

About Hong Kong Green Building Week 2015 (HKGBW 2015) Jointly organised by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC), the Hong Kong Green Building Week 2015 will be held from 2 to 16 September 2015. Through a series of programmes, HKGBW 2015 encourages the public to live a greener life and understand the importance of green building. The programmes are: • Mini LegCo and Youth Forum • Green Building Ideas Pitch • Green Photo Contest • Biz-Green Dress Day • “Grow Green, Live Green” Potted Plant Cultivation Programme To learn more about the five programmes, please go to: Website of HKGBW 2015: http://www.hkgbc.org.hk/HKGreenBuildingWeek2015 Facebook page of HKGBC: https://www.facebook.com/hkgreenbuildingcouncil About the Organisers Construction Industry Council The Construction Industry Council (CIC) was formed on 1 February 2007 under the Construction Industry Council Ordinance (Cap. 587). The CIC consists of a chairman and 24 members representing various sectors of the industry including employers, professionals, academics, contractors, workers, independent persons and government officials. The main functions of the CIC are to forge consensus on long-term strategic issues, convey the industry’s needs and aspirations to government, provide training and registration for the construction workforce and serve as a communication channel for government to solicit advice on all construction-related matters. To learn more about the CIC, please visit website www.hkcic.org. Hong Kong Green Building Council The Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) is a non-profit, member led organisa-tion established in 2009 with the vision to help save the planet and improve the wellbeing of the people of Hong Kong by transforming the city into a greener built environment. The Founding Members of the HKGBC include the Construction Industry Council (CIC), Business Environment Council (BEC), the BEAM Society Limited (BSL) and the Professional Green Building Council (PGBC). Its mission is to lead the market transformation by advocating green policies to the Government; introducing green building practices to all stakeholders; setting design, construction and management standards for the building profession; and promoting green living to the people of Hong Kong. To learn more about the HKGBC, please visit www.hkgbc.org.hk.