EMSD exhibition gallery to promote energy efficiency

The Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, today (October 18) said the Government hoped to enhance public awareness in environmental protection, energy efficiency through education.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) exhibition gallery, Dr Liao said the exhibition gallery would help to promote awareness and education on energy efficiency and renewable energy through the use of interactive exhibits and activities.

"The exhibition gallery which opens today is the starting point of the 'educational path' in the EMSD's headquarters.

The exhibits are both local and overseas experiences and cases.

The 'educational path' will lead from the seventh floor exhibition gallery to the roof viewing gallery where solar photovoltaic panels are installed.

It will be open to students and the public and complemented by guided tour.

"During visits to the exhibition gallery, people will see for themselves the innovative energy efficient features of the new building," Dr Liao said.

The Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr Sarah Liao, accompanied by the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Lai Sze-hoi, puts a swipe card in the door to mark the opening of the exhibition gallery at the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department headquarters at Kowloon Bay.

She noted that in addition to providing quality services and enforcing electrical gas safety regulation, EMSD also contributed to the quality of life for everyone in Hong Kong in its promotion of sustainable development

"EMSD's new headquarters itself is a good sample of sustainable development.

The colleagues of EMSD have made a wise decision to convert and reprovision, rather than demolish, a former cargo terminal building into its new headquarters.

The conversion has greatly reduced the use of energy and construction material as well as construction waste created.

The conversion is also a practical action to fulfil the concept of sustainable development."

She hoped that organisations and developers would consider using the same mode.

During the tour, Dr Liao was told that the solar photovoltaic system installed on the roof of the new headquarters was the largest of its kind in Hong Kong.

The panels are grid connected with the distribution network of CLP Power, producing about 300,000 to 400,000 kWh of electricity annually from direct sunlight.

This amounts to roughly 3% to 4% of the electricity consumption of the building.

Apart from producing electricity, the system will reduce carbon dioxide emission from power stations amounting to more than 200 tonnes per annum.

Dr Sarah Liao inspects the solar photovoltaic system installed on the roof top. The system will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power stations amounting to over 200 tonnes per annum.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Lai Sze-hoi, said one of the missions of EMSD was to promote the efficient use of energy and renewable energy.

"In order to achieve this, an Energy Efficiency Office was established under EMSD in early 1990 to promote to the public and various sectors the efficient use of energy.

This will indirectly reduce pollution in the production of energy," he said.

Mr Lai pledged that EMSD would continue to build a living environment which is safe, green and sustainable, and to introduce more new measures on energy saving and renewable energy.

Ends/Tuesday, October 18, 2005

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