Electrical & Mechanical Services Department New Headquarters

Opening Ceremony of New EMSD Headquarters Building

The Electrical & Mechanical Services Department new headquarters building was formerly the cargo terminal building occupied by Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (HACTL). It is situated between Kai Cheung Road and Kai Shing Street opposite the Hong Kong International Trade and Exhibition Centre and the Hong Kong Bank New Treasury. Locating on the old Kai Tak Airport site, the new EMSD building will be at the centre of the future South East Kowloon Development. The new headquarters is a seven-storey building comprising five floors of vehicle workshops, electronics workshops and car parks. The parking spaces are provided for parking of government vehicles as well as for staff undertaking outdoor duties. Moreover, the building has nearly 20,000 square metres of office space which is located on the sixth and seventh floor of the building. In addition to these facilities, a fully equipped computer data centre and staff canteen is located on the first floor of this building.
Transport Facilities Serving the New Headquarters
The new EMSD Headquarters is located in close proximity to many bus and public light bus routes. The building is served by 17 bus routes, 4 cross-harbour bus routes and 4 public light bus routes. In addition, there is a shuttle bus service, 224M providing transportation between Kowloon Bay MTR and the Hong Kong International Trade and Exhibition Centre.
Centralisation of different divisions
Due to a shortage of office and workshop space at the old Caroline Hill Road headquarters, many units of EMSD were required to operate at different locations. With the completion of the new headquarters, about 2,100 EMSD staff working at Caroline Hills Road building, Kowloon workshop, Kowloon Bay vehicle workshop, Public Works Central Laboratories Building, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, 111 Leighton Road, Hennessy Centre, China United Centre and Lu Plaza would move to the new building. Bringing together the various EMSD units under one roof is expected to enhance the operational efficiency of EMSD.
Education Path
The Education Path of EMSD headquarters is comprised of the ground floor exhibition gallery, 7/F. exhibition gallery and the roof viewing gallery. It is intended to promote awareness and provide education on energy efficiency, renewable energy and the work of EMSD through the use of interactive exhibits. In addition, we would introduce the innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy features of the new building to the public. Arrangement will be made for the public to visit the Education Path.
Energy Efficiency and Utilization of Renewable Energy
The new EMSD headquarters building has been designed with the emphasis of making use of the concrete structure of the former HACTL building as far as possible without demolition of the old building. This has the benefit of retaining most of the concrete and steel structure of the old building, which help achieve a reduction of energy consumption, use of construction material and as well as a reduction of construction waste.
The building has incorporated a number of energy efficient features and renewable energy technologies which are designed for making the building more energy efficient by 10% or more. Such features include :
1)	Solar Photovoltaic Panels The solar photovoltaic system installed in the building is the largest of its kind in Hong Kong, consist over 2,300 photovoltaic panels. The panels are installed on the building roof and can generate a maximum of 350kW of electricity. The panels are grid connected with the distribution network of CLP Power, producing about 300,000 to 400,000kWh of electricity per year from direct sunlight. This is roughly equal to the total electricity consumption of 90 families in Hong Kong or 3 - 4 % of the electricity consumption of this building. Apart from producing electricity, the system will achieve a reduction of carbon dioxide emission from power stations, amounting to 210 to 280 tonnes per annum. All panels are facing the South and inclined at 22 degrees to the ground in order to achieve maximum operating efficiency and ease of maintenance.
2)	Chiller Plant and Slurry Ice Tanks The electricity consumed by air-conditioning system contributes about half of the electricity demand of a general office building. To meet peak electricity demand, engineers often have to install large capacity generators and transformers. This building utilises “slurry ice”, a good thermal storage medium, by producing it during the off-peak period of electricity demand and storing it in 5 slurry ice tanks. During peak period of electricity demand, the ice melts and absorbs thermal heat, making it possible to reduce electricity consumption and also reduce the capacity of generators and transformers.
3)	Water-cooled Ammonia Chillers The global warming potential (GWP) (i.e. the relative effect of a greenhouse gas on global warming) of common refrigerants is 1,250, but the GWP for ammonia is zero. The new headquarters building utilises “ammonia” as refrigerant to reduce the damage to the ozone layer significantly. Moreover, the coefficient of performance for cooling of “ammonia” is higher than that of common refrigerants, therefore ammonia chillers provide both environmentally friendly and high energy efficient benefits.
4)	Double-layer Curtain Wall with Return Air Grills The office uses double-glazing with space between as a return air duct, serving the following functions:
	(i)	Heat insulation – the void between the two glasses is utilised as a return path for cool air which will lower the surface temperature of glazing. This minimises the radiant heat transmission from outside and therefore reduce the amount of energy consumed by the air-conditioning system;
	(ii)	Noise insulation – double-glazing provide a quiet working environment
5)	Sun pipes Natural light minimizes the artificial lighting demand in a deep plan building. There are 10 nos. daylight collectors installed on roof, through of groups of reflective pipes, daylight is provided for the lobby at 7/F.
6)	Motion and Daylight Sensors Motion sensors are installed around the office area. When the office is unoccupied, the ceiling lighting will be switched off automatically. Also motion and daylight sensors are installed at the peripheral areas, when the office is unoccupied or when there is ample daylight, the sensors will automatically turn off or dim down in order to minimize energy consumption.
7)	Energy-saving Desk Lamps At the new EMSD headquarters, colleagues make use of energy-saving desk lamps to minimize the energy consumption of office lighting.
8)	Sunshades Sunshades minimize direct sunlight penetrating into the building in the summer and thus reduce the energy required for providing air conditioning.
9)	Grey Water Recycling System Wastewater from showers, washbasins and kitchen areas, i.e. grey water, is collected, treated and stored in underground tanks. This water is then re-used to flush the toilets at EMSD headquarters. The average daily design flow of the Grey water Recycling System at EMSD headquarters is 26,000 litres per day, which can serve a maximum of 2,500 persons in the building. Treatment Grey water is treated in three stages as follows :
	1.	Biological treatment Micro organisms consume nutrients and transform suspended and dissolved organic matter in the water into acceptable end products. The surplus activated sludge will then be stored and removed regularly.
	2.	Micro filtration After biological treatment, the water is pumped through submerged microfiltation membrane sheets that filter out particles including bacteria larger than 0.0004 millimetres in size.
	3.	Disinfection and adjustment After filtration, chemicals are added to disinfect the water, adjust the pH value (acidity) and to maintain residual chlorine in the treated water.