To improve our performance in green building design and the overall standards of the local construction sector, we actively liaise with our industry partners. We also participate in sustainability initiatives such as the Clean Air Charter and maintain memberships with a number of professional organisations.

Industry Partners
Approach
Experience Sharing

o foster our link with the contractors, we have regular meetings with the Hong Kong Construction Association (HKCA) and the Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors Limited (HKFEMC).

56 public events

We have participated in 56 public events sharing our experiences and projects with the industry, our business partners, the public and other interest groups.

Approach

Active engagement with our industry partners is necessary to enhance green building design and the overall standards of the local construction sector. Our proactive approach is evident in our involvement with key stakeholders including relevant committees and professional bodies. In 2008, staff members from different divisions and ranks participated in 187 external committees.

In addition to engaging industry partners on construction-related issues, we are also involved with local and international sustainability initiatives, including:

Clean Air Charter in Hong Kong
Volunteer Movement in Hong Kong
Global Reporting Initiative in The Netherlands

We also maintain memberships with the following professional organisations in order to keep abreast of the latest development and initiatives in the building industry:

The Hong Kong Institute of Architects - Hong Kong based
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers - Hong Kong based
The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors - Hong Kong based
The Institution of Structural Engineers - United Kingdom based
The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers - United Kingdom based
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - United Kingdom based
Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists - United Kingdom based
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers - The United States based
International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction - The Netherlands based
Professional Green Building Council - Hong Kong based
Green Building Council - Hong Kong based (to be established)

To raise the awareness of the public to green building as well as to guide the development of industry standards and best practices in green buildings, the Hong Kong Green Building Council will be established in late 2009. It will consist of representatives of the construction industry and professional sectors and will take the lead in improving the existing voluntary green building labelling scheme and the drive for new initiatives on sustainability.

Comment from a professional organisation:

"As the leader in construction industry, ArchSD has used its power to significantly influence the sustainable performance of the supply chain. We believe that ArchSD can consider to arouse public awareness on sustainable construction through building rating system, as well as using business cases to demonstrate the benefit of incorporating green elements into buildings."

Ms. Anna Kwong Sum-yee
President
The Hong Kong Institute of Architects

Our response:

ArchSD has been benchmarking selected new government building projects with Building Environmental Assessment Method (BEAM) or the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System (LEED) and will continue our effort in the upcoming projects. To better arouse public awareness on sustainable building construction, we will consider HKIA's recommendation and incorporate it in our future reporting on government building projects with more information on the achievement in environmental and energy efficiency performance.