1.1
Introduction
1.1.1 Significance of shopping malls and shop spaces
Buildings in Hong Kong currently consume more than 90% of Hong Kong’s annual electricity consumption and account
for over 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in Hong Kong. Energy use by commercial buildings is 65% of the total energy
use of all building types, which far exceeds the energy use of residential (26%) or industrial buildings (7%)
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.
Hong Kong has the reputation of being a “shopping paradise”. Shopping is important for both residents of Hong Kong
as well as tourists. As the amount of energy used by shopping areas is so significant, it is important to look into ways of
reducing energy use in shopping malls, which will help reduce the cost of energy and the
.
The following are some special characteristics of shopping malls:
• Shopping malls usually cater to large numbers of visitors and stay open for long hours.
• There is a great variety of shop types in a shopping mall, each having different functional and operational needs.
• Shopping malls and shop spaces are frequently renovated due to a change of shop tenants, change of seasons or
simply change of look for attracting customers.
• Festive or special events often involve large-scale temporary decorative installations that are rendered useless and
become waste afterwards.
• A lot of people in Hong Kong complain about shopping malls and shop spaces being too cold which shows that much
energy is wasted on running the air-conditioning at a temperature that is too low for human comfort.
• Interiors of shopping malls and shop spaces often rely heavily on artificial lighting. Excessive artificial lighting means
more heat is generated. As such, more energy is required to cool down the shopping malls and the shop spaces.
GETTING
STARTED
TO GO
GREEN
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Hong Kong Energy End-Use Data 2012
Electrical and Mechanical Services Department. (2012). Hong Kong Energy End-Use Data 2012
12 Hong Kong Green Shop Guide
