5.6
Renewable energy opportunities
Almost all energy on Earth comes from the Sun (except a small amount of tidal energy which comes from the
gravitational force of the Moon). Even fossil fuel can be considered solar energy which has been stored for millions
of years.
Renewable energy resources include: biomass, hydro energy, geothermal energy, solar energy, wind energy, ocean
thermal energy, wave energy and tidal action. However, to be able to adopt renewable energy to shopping malls, the
following renewable energy designs are most commonly encountered and applied.
5.6.1 Solar energy system
Solar energy system can be classified into photovoltaic,
solar thermal and day lighting systems. The podium roof of a
shopping mall will have an open space where direct sunlight
is available and is a possible site for installing a photovoltaic
system as well as a solar system for the shopping mall.
The photovoltaic (PV) system includes PV panels,
and
or a combination of the three that can be installed
at roof level of the podium to generate electricity from sunlight to
cater for part of the electricity demand of the ventilation, lighting
or other systems. The PV system will comprise a PV array and
equipment such as
or inverters, electric
cables and
Besides the PV system, solar hot water preheating system,
using vacuum tube hot water solar panels, is also one of the
common renewable energy systems with a payback of around
5 to 6 years depending on the system’s capacity and usage of
hot water.
Another renewable energy system using solar power is the
daylight system. Light pipes are used for transporting or
distributing natural daylight to the interior space. They can be
installed on the podium roof garden of the shopping mall to
transmit daylight into communal areas, car parks and other
locations where appropriate.
5.6.2 Wind energy
Wind energy will have rather limited application in terms of shopping mall design.
However, by careful arrangement, some landscape lighting can be adopted to wind
power. A lamp pole with a wind turbine and/or a PV panel could be considered for
external/landscape lighting, thereby using wind and solar renewable energy. Long life
LED lamps may also be adopted to reduce the rate of lamp replacement.
5.6.3 Professional help
It is important to engage professionals for detailed consultation on the implementation of
renewable energy systems and controls in shopping malls and shops. The following is a
list of references for obtaining professional help:
• Authorised persons (AP) & registered structural engineers (RSE) – Appendix A (2)
• Registered professional engineers (RPE) in the building services discipline – Appendix A (4)
• Renewable energy system suppliers – Appendix B (6) & (7)
• Registered electrical contractors & registered electrical workers – Appendix B (4)
Figure 115 Solar hot water
system
Figure 114 Photovoltaic
installation in ZCB,
Kowloon Bay
Figure 116 Light pipe in
Zero Carbon Building
(Source: ZCB,
Construction Industry
Council)
Figure 117 Solar lawn lamps,
automatically switch on at night
and only use solar
(Source: Kai Shing
Management Services Limited)
Figure 118 Hybrid wind/PV
LED external lighting
5
Energy efficient building systems for shopping malls and shop spaces
5.6
Renewable energy opportunities
138 Hong Kong Green Shop Guide
