HKGBC launches competition for carbon neutrality

The Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC) has launched a competition to promote carbon neutrality along with Swire Properties.

The "Advancing Net Zero” ideas competition invites international industry stakeholders, designers, academia, and technology experts to contribute ideas on how to move Hong Kong’s building sector toward carbon neutrality for a sustainable future. 

Aimed at accelerating the building industry to adopt and develop low or zero carbon design and technologies, and stimulating the reviews of current regulations and code of practices to facilitate the development of eco-technology where appropriate, the competition consists of two categories, namely future building and existing building.

Under the key theme of advancing net zero, HKGBC looks to stimulate ideas, concepts, and solutions that can push boundaries in designing net-zero buildings under three sub-themes, such as zero carbon and ultra-energy efficient, embodied carbon, and healthy and sustainable.

"Hong Kong is one of the world’s top tier metropolises and is famous for its high-rise architecture. Its subtropical climate with immense building density means it is crucial for us to implement low carbon strategies and generate energy-efficient design solutions for buildings. We look forward to interacting and exchanging ideas with multi-talented experts around the world in the hope of creating a low carbon future for our community," commented Cheung Hau-wai, chairman of HKGBC.

Members of the participating teams can be based locally and internationally. However, the registrant on the registration form must be a registered local organisation in Hong Kong. A total of HK$1.2 million prize money will be distributed to all winners and shortlisted participants in the competition.

“As part of Swire Properties’ long-term commitment to sustainable development, we’re excited to be supporting the first Advancing Net Zero ideas competition, which can inspire our industry to take action and bring positive change to the built environment and beyond," said Elizabeth Kok, director and senior advisor of Swire Properties.

"We’re supporting this unique initiative by offering extensive data harnessed from two of our advanced buildings at Taikoo Place. This will help facilitate in-depth analysis of real cases, and foster original solutions that can advance to net zero buildings in a high-density city like Hong Kong," she added.