Frequently Asked Questions
Energy Audit
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1.Can Energy Audit Code (EAC) and the corresponding Technical Guidelines (TG) apply to those non-prescribed buildings under the BEEO?
The EAC and the corresponding TG is designed under the framework in the Ordinance which is specifically designed for prescribed buildings. However, as a tool to understand the building energy performance and hence carry out energy efficiency improvement, the modification or adjustment for application of EAC and TG can be adopted in Non-CBSIs or non-prescribed buildings.
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2.Should energy audit cover an individual unit of a commercial building or an individual shop of a shopping center?
The energy audit requirement of the Ordinance only applies to the central building services installations of a commercial building. Please refer to section 2 of the latest edition of the Energy Audit Code for the detailed technical interpretation of "central building services installation". Normally, the building services installations solely serving an individual unit or an individual shop will not be regarded as "central building services installation".
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3.If a building is principally regarded as one of the types of prescribed building other than commercial building listed in Schedule 1 of the Ordinance, will it be also regarded as a commercial building at the meantime so that energy audit is required?
Any building covered by the Ordinance will not be regarded as more than one type at the meantime. For example, a hotel is only regarded as the type of “hotel and guesthouse” under Schedule 1 of the Ordinance and will not also be regarded as a “commercial building” at the meantime.
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4.Is it required to carry out energy audit for old commercial-residential composite buildings?
Pursuant to clause 4.2 of the latest edition of the Energy Audit Code, in the case of a composite building, the energy audit requirement should only be applicable to the central building services installation solely serving the commercial portions. For example, if a lift is serving the floors of a shopping mall and the residential storeys above simultaneously, energy audit is not required for the lift.
In respect of a commercial-residential composite building, if there is no restriction in the “occupation permit” (OP) issued under the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) that each floor can only be used for commercial or non-commercial purpose, the usage of individual units on the same floor may be changed free between commercial and non-commercial purpose (i.e. commercial and non-commercial units are allowed to co-exist on the same floor). Since there is no definite demarcation between the commercial and non-commercial portions in this type of composite building, there is no central building services installation solely serving the commercial portions and thus energy audit is not mandatory for this type of composite building. The owner of a composite building should check up the OP to identify whether the composite building belongs to this type. In case of doubt, the owner may consult the Buildings Department about the conditions of the relevant OP. -
5.Is energy audit still required for a building required mandatory energy audit but with only minor central building services installations, such as only a few lighting and/or central air-conditioners/ventilations at common lobbies, corridors, staircases and/or toilets etc. in a small shopping centre of a commercial-residential composite building or in a small office building?
If the building owner considers that the potential for energy saving is limited and that conducting an energy audit would be technically or operationally undesirable, an application may be submitted to the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) for consideration. EMSD will examine each case on its indivdual merits and may grant discretionary exemption from the mandatory energy audit requirement for central building services installations serving only the commercial portion of a building. Such exemption may be considered if the total rating of all circuit protective devices supplying the installations does not exceed 100A, 1-phase (to be revised from 100A, 1-phase to 400A, 3-phase upon the effective date of the Energy Audit Code 2024 Addendum).
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6.The commercial portion of a composite building only consists of some shops at ground floor with entrances all from the public street outside. There is no common area (such as corridor, staircase, toilet etc.) shared by the shops. The building services installations in each individual shop are installed and owned by the shop tenants solely serve the shop itself. Does the energy audit requirement apply to the commercial portion?
Pursuant to the latest edition of the Energy Audit Code, in the case of a composite building, the energy audit requirement should only be applicable to the central building services installation solely serving the commercial portions. Since there is no central building services installation solely serving the commercial portion in this case, the energy audit requirement does not apply to the commercial portion.
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7.There is a lift in a commercial-residential composite building and the lift serves both the storeys of a shopping centre at the lowest floors and the residential portion above. Does the energy audit requirement apply to this lift?
Pursuant to the latest edition of the Energy Audit Code, in the case of a composite building, the energy audit requirement should only be applicable to the central building services installation solely serving the commercial portions. Since the lift is serving the storeys of a shopping centre and the residential portion above simultaneously, energy audit is not required for the lift.
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8.May an owner of building apply for an extension to the deadline of energy audit specified in the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance?
There is no provision under the Ordinance allowing such an extension. Thus, the owner of building should carry out the energy audit as soon as possible before the prescribed deadline.
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9.The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) will issue letters to remind the owners of the relevant buildings to carry out energy audit before the deadlines prescribed in the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance. If an owner does not receive EMSD’s such a letter, does it mean that the owner is not required to carry out energy audit for his/her building?
The letters issued by EMSD only serve as soft reminders to the owners of the relevant buildings known by EMSD so far. It is not a legal requirement. However, EMSD does not guarantee having known all the relevant buildings. Thus, it is eventually the building owners' own obligation to consciously carry out energy audit even not receiving the letters.
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10.Is it mandatory to implement the energy management opportunities (i.e. energy saving measures) identified in energy audit?
The implementation of energy management opportunities is not mandatory under the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance. Building owners can assess whether and when they would like to carry out the recommended improvement measures, taking into account the availability of their resources. The savings in the electricity bills will be a driving force for owners in considering the implementation of energy saving measures.
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11.Does the “total internal floor area” in the calculation of the Energy Utlilization Index include the floor area of units and roof of a building?
The "total internal floor area" of a building entity should –
- include the units occupied by the owner of the building entity (landlord), the units occupied by individual owners who are not the landlord, and units occupied by the leasing tenants;
- include the common areas such as car park, entrance lobby, lift lobbies, plant rooms, corridors, staircases, commonly used toilets etc.;
- not include the residential portion or industrial portion for a composite building; and
- not include roof area, outdoor gardening area and balcony.
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