City's green building standard to go global

Staff reporter

Hong Kong's green building rating system and certification is set to go global in a move that is expected to benefit related industries, from construction services to property technology to green loans.

The Hong Kong Green Building Council and the BEAM Society Limited or BSL will launch a global version of the rating which will be known as BEAM Plus Existing Buildings (EB) (Global Version) 1.0.

Launched in 1996, BEAM Plus is a tool to rate the sustainability performance of buildings. Buildings with BEAM Plus certificate usually can secure a higher rental rate as they are more energy efficient and equipped with green features like recycled water.

HKGBC chairman Cheung Tin-cheung said that based on the original tool, other flexible elements will be added to the global version to suit different climates and geographical conditions.

Cheung said that the global version will be available to clients in the mainland, Belt and Road Regions and Europe.

Thirteen developers and property management firms have signed memoranda of understanding with the HKGBC and BSL, covering more than 30 properties in the mainland, Southeast Asia, London, Sydney and other locations. These buildings will be rated with the Beam Plus EB (Global Version).

The 13 firms are China Merchants Shekou Holdings, China Resources Property Management, Chinachem Group, Emperor International Holding (0163), Great Eagle Holdings (0041), Hong Yip Service Company, Hysan Development (0014), Kai Shing Management Services, Macau University of Science and Technology, New World Development (0017), Sino Land (0083), Sun Hung Kai Properties (0016) and Swire Properties (1972).

BSL general manager Ho Chi-shing said that as a number of existing buildings are yet to become "green," they will be targeted first.

Ho said that the BSL may introduce a 2.0 version in less than a year. He said that with the assistance of the new tool, recommendations can be made to clients to reach the goal even if some buildings fail to attain the BEAM Plus rating.

A BEAM Plus New Buildings (Global Version) handbook version 1 will be released in the first half of 2025.

Since the launch of BEAM Plus in 2010, over 1,800 projects have been certified with BEAM Plus ratings.