An Upgraded GreenBuilding Rating Tool in Response to Evolving Industry Development

A HundredIndustry Professionals Attended the Ceremony in Support of the Launch

HONG KONG, CHINA - MediaOutReach - 5 September 2019 - The Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC)and BEAM Society Limited (BSL) are pleased to announce the official launch ofBEAM Plus New Buildings version 2.0 (NB v2.0). Thelaunch ceremony was held at Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) on 4 September 2019. MrTSE Chin-wan, BBS, JP, Under Secretary for the Environment and Mr JohnKWONG Ka-sing, PrincipalGovernment Engineer, DevelopmentBureau, HKSARG, officiatedthe ceremony as the Guests of Honour.

Since the launch of BEAM Plus NB v1.2 in 2012,the rating tool has continued to evolve after taking into account feedback fromthe industry. The BEAM Plus NB v2.0 washammered out as a result of the suggestions and comments collected over thepast seven years as well as updated government guidance on the adoption ofenergy-efficient features and renewable energy technologies. In order todemonstrate the HKSAR Government's commitment to low-carbon growth, bureaux anddepartments are encouraged to achieve BEAM Plus Gold for all major governmentbuildings.

Withthe objectives of making the NB v2.0 a holistic performance indicator and auser-friendly assessment tool, the fundamental of BEAM Plus NB v2.0 is tomaintain the assessment criteria at a level beyond statutory requirements,while enhancing adaptability, certainty and practicality of the assessment. Theupgraded BEAM Plus NB v2.0 is designed to provide practicable, clear andstandardised criteria to assess the performance of green buildings, includinghealth and wellbeing, hygiene, site impacts, use of materials, water quality,energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, etc.

Inparticular, the NB v2.0 now places more emphasis on "Health and Wellbeing", which highlightshuman environmental quality. Apart from indoor environmental quality, such as lighting,ventilation, acoustic, indoor air quality, thermal comfort, etc., human centricdesign elements are also considered in the assessment. These include, forexample, provision of design measures that encourage healthy and active living,adoption of biophilic design that increases occupants' connectivity to thenatural environment, etc. 

Another key assessment aspect added in the BEAMPlus NB v2.0 assessment is Integrated Design and Construction Management. Theadoption of an integrated design process ensures a building can sustain itsgreenness throughout its building life cycle, allowing all stakeholders topartake in setting the environmental goals and objectives. Moreover, creditsare given to projects that involve BEAM Professionals and BEAM Affiliates, aswell as those that apply smart technologies to facilitate communication amongthe project team members.

About The Hong Kong Green Building Council

TheHong Kong Green Building Council Limited (HKGBC) is a non-profit, member ledorganisation established in 2009 and has become a public body under thePrevention of Bribery Ordinance since 2016. The HKGBC's vision is to help savethe planet and improve the wellbeing of the people of Hong Kong by transformingthe city into a greener built environment. The Founding Members of the HKGBCinclude the Construction Industry Council (CIC), the Business EnvironmentCouncil (BEC), the BEAM Society Limited (BSL) and the Professional GreenBuilding Council (PGBC). Its mission is to lead market transformation byadvocating green policies to the Government; introducing green buildingpractices to all stakeholders; setting design, construction and managementstandards for the building profession; and promoting green living to the peopleof Hong Kong.

Tolearn more about the HKGBC, please visit www.hkgbc.org.hk.

AboutBEAM Society Limited

BEAMSociety Limited (BSL), owner of Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM& BEAM Plus), is a non-profit organisation committed to developing andimplementing BEAM Plus assessment tools, assessing green buildings and trainingBEAM practitioners.  The BSL has become a public body under thePrevention of Bribery Ordinance since 2016. 

BEAMSociety Limited continuously strives to improve the overall quality of thebuilt environment in Hong Kong. BEAM Plus assessment tools, including BEAM PlusNew Buildings, BEAM Plus Existing Buildings, BEAM Plus Interiors and BEAM PlusNeighbourhood, are currently applicable to the stages of master planning,building design, construction on site and fit-out and operation.

Tolearn more about the BSL, please visit www.beamsociety.org.hk.