Cultivating an Energy Saving Culture on Campus

The Chinese University won the gold award in the Schools (Tertiary) Category of the First Hong Kong Energy Efficiency Awards organized by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) of the HKSAR Government. The results were announced on 9th May 2006. Chairman of the Universitys Energy Saving Task Force, Mr. Terence Chan, bursar, and member, Mr. Benny Tam, director of Estates Management Office, said, The award is a recognition of its achievements in raising energy efficiency, renewing resources and promoting energy saving practices. It is only a beginning. Our long-term goal is to cultivate an energy saving culture on campus.

The Energy Saving Task Force was set up in 1999 to consolidate campus-wide energy saving efforts. Key energy management strategies initiated included a campus-wide lighting retrofit programme using T5 neon lamps, which reduces energy consumption by 20%; the replacement of air-cooled chillers by high-energy-efficient water-cooled chillers, which improves the capacity and stability of the system and reduces energy consumption by 20%; the implementation of the Building Management System which imposes more complex, real-time controls and monitoring.

The University also encourages the use of renewable energy. CUHK was the first among local tertiary institutions to install the evacuated tube solar hot water system in showering facilities; a hydraulic ram pump has also been installed in streams for irrigation and flushing.