Hong Kong Green Shop Guide - page 37

1
Getting started to go green
1.3
Quick Start Menu to go green
Reuse materials and new materials
• Consider the reuse of existing decoration materials and furniture when moving to a
new shop location to help minimise waste generation.
• Consider taking up previous tenants’ decoration and furniture if their condition
and usage suit your operational and functional needs to help minimise waste
generation.
• When renovation of an existing shop space is needed, try to minimise the scale of
renovation to save cost and minimise waste generation.
Note: Avoid green washing
Read more at – Evaluating Environmental Marketing Claims
The U.S. Government. U.S. Government Printing Office. Electronic Code of Federal
Regulations. Part 260-Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims.
Retrieved 30 May 2013, from
http://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/press-releases/ftc-issues-revised-
green-guides/greenguides.pdf
• When new materials are used, consider the use of green labelled materials.
• When new materials are used, consider the life cycle cost of materials.
• When new materials are used, choose regional materials to reduce the carbon
footprint by reducing energy consumption resulting from transportation of materials.
• Where new wood products are used, select wood from sustainable sources such
as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood. Avoid using any endangered
wood species.
• Choose materials that provide a healthy shopping environment.
• Avoid using vinyl products.
• Avoid using volatile organic compound (VOC)products. Choose the products
which specify “No VOC” or “low VOC”.
• Avoid using any products with formaldehyde .
Note: Formaldehyde is a type of VOC which is present in many building materials,
adhesives, fabrics, carpet, etc. Formaldehyde is a suspected human carcinogen.
• Use water-based adhesives for carpentry work where possible.
• Where stone finishes are used, carry out a radon test to check if a harmful level of
radon exists. Exposure to harmful levels of radon may increase the risk of having
lung cancer.
Note: Radon is a colourless radioactive gas that exhibits no taste or smell. Radon is
mainly emitted from granite and marble.
• Where carpet is used, check for the emission of gas that reduces indoor air quality.
• Carry out an indoor air quality (IAQ) test that aims at having an excellent standard.
& Continue to read:
More details will be discussed
in:
• Section 4.5
Material selection
• Section 2.3.3
B2.1
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Certification Scheme
Hong Kong Green Building Council 35