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. Details please refer to Explanatory Notes for building not covered by BEEO or Non-CBSI conducting energy audit.
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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.Will energy audit carried out before 21 September 2012 be recognized?
It may be regarded as a valid energy audit if meeting certain conditions. For details, please refer to the relevant transitional arrangement promulgated at the relevant webpage of the Ordinance.
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4.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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5.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. -
6.Is energy audit still required for the commercial portions of composite buildings or commercial buildings with only minor central building services installations, such as only a few lighting and/or central air-conditioners/ventilation-fans at common lobbies, corridors, staircases and/or toilets etc. in a small shopping center of a commercial-residential composite building or in a small office building?
Pursuant to the latest edition of the Energy Audit Code, EMSD will consider case by case to grant exemption from the mandatory energy audit requirement for the central building services installations solely serving the commercial portion of a composite building or a commercial building if the total rating of all the circuit protective devices (whichever are nearer the supply side) solely governing the electricity supply of the relevant central building services installation does not exceed 100A, 1-phase (approximately equivalent to 500 nos. 1.2 m T5 fluorescent tube or 15 nos. 1.5 hp air conditioner). If the relevant owners’ corporation or building owners consider that the said condition is met and it is technically or operationally undesirable to carry out energy audit due to the limited room of energy saving, they may, pursuant to section 25 of the Ordinance, submit an application to EMSD for an exemption of the relevant central building services installations from the requirement of carrying out energy audit under section 22(4) of the Ordinance (please note that the Ordinance does not empower EMSD to grant exemption actively unless an application in writing is received) . To expedite this department's verification that the aforesaid condition is really met, the owners should also submit the relevant electrical schematic diagrams of the commercial portion along with their application.
Please click here for the standard application form for the aforesaid exemption. The application form must be signed by the representative of the relevant owners' corporation or building owners. Please note that a property management company cannot be regarded as the relevant representative in this case. Here is a sample application form for reference.
Please note that if the relevant owners’ corporation or building owners do not apply for exemption, they are still required to carry out the energy audit pursuant to the Ordinance. -
7.Which commercial buildings or composite buildings with commercial portions (such as shopping centres) are not mandatory to carry out energy audit?
Pursuant to Schedule 4 of the Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance, the energy audit requirement under the Ordinance only applies to a commercial building or a portion of composite building that is for commercial use (such as shopping centres). However, the Ordinance does not apply to the types of building prescribed in section 4 of the Ordinance and thus energy audit is not mandatory for such a building even it is a commercial building or a composite building with commercial portion. Moreover, pursuant to section 21(2) of the Ordinance, the energy audit requirement also does not apply to a building if the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services is satisfied on a declaration by the owner of the building that the building will cease to fall within the type of commercial building or composite building with commercial portion (such as change of usage) within 12 months after the date of the declaration.
Since it has been expressly specified in the Ordinance that the Ordinance or its energy audit requirement does not apply to the aforesaid types of building, the relevant owners are not required to specially submit application to Electrical and Mechanical Services Department for exemption from the energy audit requirement for the buildings. -
8.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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9.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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10.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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11.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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12.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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13.Does the “total internal floor area” in the calculation of the Energy Utilization Index include the floor area of units and roof of a building? Moreover, what is the difference between the said “total internal floor area” and the “total of building entity” stated in item (B)7 of Part I of Form EE-EAes?
"Total Internal floor area"
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 entrance lobby, lift lobbies, plant rooms, corridors, staircases, commonly used toilets etc.;
- include the car park, if any;
- not include its units in the residential portion or industrial portion for a composite building; and
- not include roof area, outdoor gardening area and balcony.
"Total of building entity"(item (B)7 of Part I & remark ^ 16 in Form EE-EAes)
The "total of building entity" refers to the total "internal floor area" of a building entity. The "%tage area of total of building entity" refers to all the spaces served by the central building services installation (CBSI) in the building entity. The "%tage area" may be 100% if all the units in the building entity are served by the CBSI (example being a central chilled water plant providing chilled water to the common areas as well as to all the units). However, if the above chilled water plant does not serve a unit in the building entity, irrespective of ownership of the unit, the "%tage area" will not be 100%.
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