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Evaporative cooling is an environmentally friendly and energy efficient cooling method that only uses water as the working fluid to cool air through the simple evaporation of water. It is a technology that could substantially reduce the... more
Evaporative cooling is an environmentally friendly and energy efficient cooling method that only uses water as the working fluid to cool air through the simple evaporation of water. It is a technology that could substantially reduce the air-conditioning cooling energy requirement in buildings and provide other important environmental benefits. However, traditional direct evaporative coolers will increase the humidity of the air to a level that makes occupants uncomfortable under humid climatic conditions. Two-stage evaporative cooling systems can improve efficiency and reduce the amount of moisture added to the air. This research paper explains the working principles of two-stage evaporative cooling systems and assesses their performance in Hong Kong which has a hot and humid climate. The local climatic factors are investigated and the characteristics of the systems are evaluated. It is found that the high humidity conditions throughout the year in this climate do not permit regular...
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Green roofs can provide several environmental benefits in urban cities and can also create habitat for living organisms thus help to enhance biodiversity. At present, many green building assessment methods have considered green roofs as a... more
Green roofs can provide several environmental benefits in urban cities and can also create habitat for living organisms thus help to enhance biodiversity. At present, many green building assessment methods have considered green roofs as a desirable sustainable design feature, however, the approach to assess the biodiversity aspect in these methods is not clear and effective. This research aims to investigate how green roofs can enhance biodiversity in an urban environment and to develop an effective system to assess the green roofs. Firstly, the basic concepts and significance of biodiversity conservation were studied. Secondly, the important factors and considerations for using biodiversity as a criterion for assessing green roofs were evaluated. Thirdly, a systematic method to assess the biodiversity effects was established. Finally, the design strategies to maximise urban biodiversity of green roofs were discussed. It is found that building development in the urban areas will des...
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Building information modelling (BIM) has grown significantly in the world and has become a very important trend to support the development of virtual design and construction (VDC) which can streamline integrated project delivery workflow... more
Building information modelling (BIM) has grown significantly in the world and has become a very important trend to support the development of virtual design and construction (VDC) which can streamline integrated project delivery workflow and improve business performances and productivity throughout the total lifecycle of building assets. It is believed that BIM application is an important first step towards the digitalization of the construction industry; it will eventually become one of the essential competencies for construction practitioners. However, despite its many advantages, BIM adoption has been slow in Hong Kong. This research paper investigates the key factors affecting the adoption and implementation of BIM and discusses the strategies to transform the construction industry in Hong Kong via BIM innovation. To fully realize the benefits and power of BIM, there is an urgent need to promote high-quality professional education and advanced training.
This paper explains the basic concept of building automation and control system (BACS), examines the latest trends in the related technologies, and describes the challenges and future directions of the building control industry. It is... more
This paper explains the basic concept of building automation and control system (BACS), examines the latest trends in the related technologies, and describes the challenges and future directions of the building control industry. It is believed that the development trend of BACS is greatly influenced by the advancement and blooming of information technology and communication networks. To achieve intelligent facility management and enhance the overall building performance, it is necessary to develop and implement the BACS in an effective manner, by considering appropriate technologies, actual project requirements and imaginations. It is also important to have effective system specification and proper education so that the knowledge from different disciplines can be integrated more efficiently in practice.
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Site offices are essential provisions for all construction works including building and civil engineering projects. Their design and operation are different from normal buildings since they are temporary structures and need to cater for... more
Site offices are essential provisions for all construction works including building and civil engineering projects. Their design and operation are different from normal buildings since they are temporary structures and need to cater for the particular site conditions. If sustainability and environmental performance are not considered adequately in their design and operation, then significant amount of energy and resources will be wasted and the productivity of the workers will also be affected. This paper reports a research study to assess and investigate sustainable design and operation of construction site offices in Hong Kong. Four existing site offices have been studied and evaluated. Useful information was obtained to assist the planning and design of another new site office which is a pilot project aiming at promoting green and sustainable design. Analysis of thermal performance of the existing site offices indicates that there is lost of saving opportunities in the current practices. Evaluation of the lighting systems also shows that a green site office can operate with lower costs and increased worker satisfaction. As construction site offices have short life spans, usually 2 to 4 years, their design and operation will present a challenge to resource efficiency and life cycle analysis.
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Prefabrication techniques have been applied to residential buildings in Hong Kong for many years. Most of them are used on structural elements; prefabrication of building services components and their integration with architectural and... more
Prefabrication techniques have been applied to residential buildings in Hong Kong for many years. Most of them are used on structural elements; prefabrication of building services components and their integration with architectural and structural elements are not yet fully explored. Well-planned prefabrication can help reduce construction time and on-site costs. By adopting off-site manufacture and pre-assembly, it is possible to improve efficiency and quality assurance of the components and enhance environmental performance and site safety. This study investigates the application and potential of prefabricated building services components for residential buildings in Hong Kong. The technology development of off-site fabrication in some overseas countries is examined and the local experience for prefabrication is evaluated. It is found that the prefabrication approach will involve extensive use of standardisation and modularisation. To achieve the real benefit for building services equipment and distribution, prefabrication must form a fundamental part of the integrated and coordinated design strategy for the building. It is believed that further development of prefabrication will lead to a closer integration between building services and manufacturing engineering.
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Exergy analysis is a useful thermodynamic technique for assessing and improving the efficiency of processes and systems. By examining the exergy destruction properties, it is possible to optimize the environmental and economic performance... more
Exergy analysis is a useful thermodynamic technique for assessing and improving the efficiency of processes and systems. By examining the exergy destruction properties, it is possible to optimize the environmental and economic performance of the systems. This research applies exergy analysis technique to investigate and optimize the performance of evaporative cooling towers in HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) systems. The analysis is carried out in two steps. The first step considers the physical exergy of each component and process within a whole HVAC system for a typical office building. The building's cooling load and cooling energy requirements are determined by building energy simulation software. Exergy destruction and exergy efficiency of the system are calculated from theoretical models. The result indicates that the exergy loss of cooling tower is quite significant, and the loss is affected by outdoor environment and condensing water temperature. The sec...
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Green living wall is an emerging new technology and a sustainable design strategy for high performance green buildings. By using the natural processes of the vegetation, it can provide the potential benefits for mitigating urban heat... more
Green living wall is an emerging new technology and a sustainable design strategy for high performance green buildings. By using the natural processes of the vegetation, it can provide the potential benefits for mitigating urban heat island, enhancing building’s thermal performance and improving air quality. For densely populated urban cities like Hong Kong, the space available for greening is very limited and green living walls can be applied to the exterior and interior surfaces of buildings to improve the city environment. This research aims to investigate the thermal regulation performance of green living walls. The basic principles and mechanisms of thermal regulation of green living walls were studied. The major characteristics of the heat transfer processes were evaluated and the key factors affecting the thermal regulation were identified. Theoretical models were developed for assessing the thermal regulation performance of different types of green living wall systems. It is...
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Hotel buildings in Hong Kong use significant amount of energy and the potential for energy savings is large. However, the energy performance of hotel buildings is difficult to evaluate and compare because they have different building... more
Hotel buildings in Hong Kong use significant amount of energy and the potential for energy savings is large. However, the energy performance of hotel buildings is difficult to evaluate and compare because they have different building designs, functional facilities and operational requirements. To promote better and more effective management and design of hotels, benchmarking technique can be used to assess the energy performance and provide useful information to support strategic decision making and planning. This paper reports the major findings of a research to investigate the energy consumption of hotel buildings in Hong Kong and to develop systematic methods for benchmarking their energy performance. The current knowledge and worldwide experience of energy benchmarking were reviewed critically. The major characteristics of the design and operation of hotel buildings in Hong Kong were studied. Theoretical energy models were established to assess the energy consumption patterns an...
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Many urban cities in the world are trying to enhance sustainability by improving urban greenery and promoting urban farming. By installing green roofs with urban farming, it is possible to achieve environmental, social and economic... more
Many urban cities in the world are trying to enhance sustainability by improving urban greenery and promoting urban farming. By installing green roofs with urban farming, it is possible to achieve environmental, social and economic sustainability for the buildings in urban cities because it can contribute to the mitigation of environmental problems, enhancement of community functions and development of urban food systems. This paper describes a research to investigate green roof urban farming for urban cities like Hong Kong. The benefits and potential of rooftop urban farming are examined; some experiences and examples in the world are described. The characteristics and constraints of urban cities are studied and the practical situation in Hong Kong is evaluated. It is hoped that the research information will be useful to promoting sustainable buildings and environment in urban cities.
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Lighting system is very important for university classrooms and other educational facilities because it affects the learning environment and energy management of the universities. With growing concerns on energy efficiency and increasing... more
Lighting system is very important for university classrooms and other educational facilities because it affects the learning environment and energy management of the universities. With growing concerns on energy efficiency and increasing demands to enhance the physical environment of classrooms, there is an urgent need to improve the lighting systems in university classrooms. This paper presents the key findings of a research project aiming to investigate effective lighting systems for university classrooms. The theory and requirements of classroom lighting design were studied. Technical measurements and computer modelling were carried out on several university classrooms in Hong Kong. It is found that the size of classroom, type of luminaire, lighting control methods and lighting operations modes are critical factors affecting the system performance. For new classrooms, it is necessary to coordinate the architectural and interior designs with daylighting and artificial lighting so ...
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Chilled ceiling systems are a relatively new approach to cooling and they have been applied in Europe and other countries for many years. The technology is based on ceiling-based radiant cooling panels coupled with chilled water pipes or... more
Chilled ceiling systems are a relatively new approach to cooling and they have been applied in Europe and other countries for many years. The technology is based on ceiling-based radiant cooling panels coupled with chilled water pipes or coils. By combing convection and radiation, these systems have the potential to enhance thermal comfort and reduce energy use in air-conditioned buildings. This research studied the basic principles and key characteristics of chilled ceiling systems in order to assess their potential benefits on thermal comfort and energy performance. Field studies in two pilot projects in Hong Kong were carried out to investigate the system performance and practical considerations. Building energy simulation was applied to assess the potential benefits of the system on building energy performance. It is found from the field studies that the thermal comfort can be maintained in most of the time but some occupants feel that the air movement is sometimes too low. As c...
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Benchmarking is the continuous activity of identifying, understanding and adapting best practice and processes that will lead to superior performance. It is becoming a key methodology for the assessment of energy efficiency opportunity.... more
Benchmarking is the continuous activity of identifying, understanding and adapting best practice and processes that will lead to superior performance. It is becoming a key methodology for the assessment of energy efficiency opportunity. The process of energy benchmarking is very useful not only to building operation and management, but also to plant engineering and maintenance. By benchmarking the energy use, it is possible to set targets for promoting best practices and achieving better energy efficiency in buildings and industrial facilities. This research paper describes the basic principles of energy benchmarking and explains its significance to building facility management and plant engineering. As energy is important to every society and organization, it is believed that the benchmarking process can help evaluate performance, support decisions and facilitate improvements. The important issues and considerations for the implementation are discussed. It is hoped that more people...
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Study Team wishes to acknowledge the comments, opinions and valuable information provided by the following government departments, public institutions and private organizations.
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Transitional spaces refer to those spaces located in-between interior and exterior environments acting as both buffer spaces and physical links, such as entrance canopies, foyers, lift lobbies, corridors, stairwells, etc. As transitional... more
Transitional spaces refer to those spaces located in-between interior and exterior environments acting as both buffer spaces and physical links, such as entrance canopies, foyers, lift lobbies, corridors, stairwells, etc. As transitional spaces may constitute a significant portion of the building volume and have large implications to occupants' experience and building energy consumption, many research studies have come up in recent years to examine their conditions and characteristics. This research aims to investigate the thermal conditions and subjective thermal perceptions of occupants in the different types of transitional spaces. Semi-opened and fully enclosed lift lobbies and corridors in The University of Hong Kong (HKU) campus were chosen for the field study. Theoretical study, survey questionnaires and simple energy simulation have been implemented to examine the thermal comfort requirements, people's perceptions and energy impact of transitional spaces. It was foun...
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Hong Kong often faces stormwater problems during the rainy season. The heavy rainstorm could cause flooding and serious damages to the society. To tackle this, the Government has to make large investment in drainage and flood control... more
Hong Kong often faces stormwater problems during the rainy season. The heavy rainstorm could cause flooding and serious damages to the society. To tackle this, the Government has to make large investment in drainage and flood control projects which have significant socioeconomic implications. The research findings in other countries indicated that green roofs can be an effective tool to help mitigate stormwater problems. The application of green roofs in the buildings can delay the starting time of the stormwater runoff and reduce the magnitude of peak runoff and the total amount of rainwater discharged from the buildings. Also, the roof greening method in urban areas can improve the quality of the built environment and provide useful spaces for community functions. This paper explains the major findings of a research project to study the potential of green roofs for stormwater mitigation in Hong Kong. The rainfall characteristics and stormwater issues in Hong Kong are evaluated. Th...
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Underfloor air distribution (UFAD) systems use an underfloor supply plenum located between the structural floor slab and a raised floor system to supply conditioned air through floor diffusers or terminal units directly into the... more
Underfloor air distribution (UFAD) systems use an underfloor supply plenum located between the structural floor slab and a raised floor system to supply conditioned air through floor diffusers or terminal units directly into the building’s occupied zone. If designed properly, they have the potential to enhance energy efficiency, indoor air quality and building life cycle performance. However, the application of UFAD system is still obstructed by the information gap in some fundamental issues, such as cooling load calculation. All the cooling load calculation methods for UFAD systems nowadays have limitations and drawbacks and most building designers are not familiar with them. This research aims to investigate the cooling loads calculation methods for UFAD systems. Fundamental principles of UFAD with different configurations are studied to analyse the effects on cooling load components. Critical evaluation is made on the key factors and issues affecting the cooling load and how they...
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This paper discusses the needs of capacity building for energy efficient buildings in China and explains the potential of using the World Wide Web for improving the education and information programmes. A Web-based information system has... more
This paper discusses the needs of capacity building for energy efficient buildings in China and explains the potential of using the World Wide Web for improving the education and information programmes. A Web-based information system has been developed at The University of Hong Kong for the dissemination and promotion of energy efficient technologies. The Web materials from the system have also been used to create a learning environment for supporting university education and professional training and for promoting informal learning and self-study of the subject. It is believed that the Web-based approach can be promoted in China to enhance the capacity-building activities. Courses and training programmes are now being developed for promoting energy efficiency and sustainable architecture. 1.
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With the growing importance of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies, there is an urgent need to integrate the new knowledge in these fields into our education system. The Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) can be an effective... more
With the growing importance of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies, there is an urgent need to integrate the new knowledge in these fields into our education system. The Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) can be an effective medium for the delivery of good quality education and training for these subjects, because of its flexibility, timeliness, and breadth of access. This paper investigates an approach for developing a web-based learning environment for building energy efficiency and solar design. The use of the WWW as a delivery system for educational materials and information resources is discussed. Some of the technical and pedagogical issues associated with the web-based techniques are identified. The experience from a pilot study at the University of Hong Kong is evaluated and the major considerations for the design of web-based learning are presented. It is hoped that the present study could stimulate more discussions and innovative ideas for exploiting the educ...
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Building information modelling (BIM) is a collaborative working process using digital models to support virtual design and construction (VDC) which can streamline project delivery workflow and improve building performance. The use of BIM... more
Building information modelling (BIM) is a collaborative working process using digital models to support virtual design and construction (VDC) which can streamline project delivery workflow and improve building performance. The use of BIM to provide data for energy performance evaluation and sustainability assessment is known as Green BIM. In recent years, BIM adoption has grown significantly in many countries and cities around the world. BIM-based energy analysis can help project design teams to examine and create optimized energy efficiency. A BIM-based approach to green building can assist professionals in predicting the outcomes of construction to minimize its impact on the environment throughout its life cycle. The Green BIM potentials can be enhanced when useful information and data are collected and provided to facilities managers and building end-users. This research paper will explain the key characteristics of BIM, describe the information requirements and management for su...
Abstract This paper introduces a concept of robustness of an air distribution method, which is defined as being capable of meeting the ventilation requirements during varying operational conditions. The robustness performance may be... more
Abstract This paper introduces a concept of robustness of an air distribution method, which is defined as being capable of meeting the ventilation requirements during varying operational conditions. The robustness performance may be particularly important when ...
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Dec 2010: We have a new server, a new release of DSpace, and an expansion of HKU ResearcherPages. Happy exploring! ... HKU & Springer sign deal to allow all HKU faculty & students to publish in Open Access. ... Energy Efficiency... more
Dec 2010: We have a new server, a new release of DSpace, and an expansion of HKU ResearcherPages. Happy exploring! ... HKU & Springer sign deal to allow all HKU faculty & students to publish in Open Access. ... Energy Efficiency in Building, 2002, v. 40, p. 21-29 ...
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This web site is developed with the aim to promote sustainable design and planning of buildings. A knowledge base of case studies and resources has been established to illustrate the sustainable design strategies and features in realistic... more
This web site is developed with the aim to promote sustainable design and planning of buildings. A knowledge base of case studies and resources has been established to illustrate the sustainable design strategies and features in realistic building projects all ...
Building Services Engineering (BSE) is widely taught and researched at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), and the purpose of this home page is to create a one-stop, vritual centre for access to all related activities. ... Building... more
Building Services Engineering (BSE) is widely taught and researched at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), and the purpose of this home page is to create a one-stop, vritual centre for access to all related activities. ... Building Services Engineering (BSE) is widely taught and ...
ABSTRACT
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Page 1. BUILDING RESEARCH AND INFORMATION VOLUME 24 NUMBER 3 1996 A review of building energy standards and implications for Hong Kong AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY OFFICE WAS FORMED IN HONG KONG ...
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Page 1. UDC: 551.5:31 (512.317) Keywords: Building energy'simulation; Statistics; Typical meteorological year; Weather data, Architectural Science Review Volume 39, pp 201-209 A Statistical Approach to the Development ...
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Energy efficiency of buildings is important from both an eco-nomic and environmental points of view. Thetechnology exists for substantial energy savings in the building sector but the potential for such savings has still to be fully... more
Energy efficiency of buildings is important from both an eco-nomic and environmental points of view. Thetechnology exists for substantial energy savings in the building sector but the potential for such savings has still to be fully exploited (Rosenfeld and Hafemeister 1988). To ...
ABSTRACT
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Page 1. - 1 - Opportunities and Challenges of Energy Performance Contracting to Improve Existing Buildings in Hong Kong Sam CM Hui Department of Mechanical Engineering The University of Hong Kong SUMMARY Energy ...
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Green roof systems are living vegetation installed on the roofs and can provide many environmental and social bene-fits for achieving low carbon high performance building. This paper describes the major findings of a research to de-velop... more
Green roof systems are living vegetation installed on the roofs and can provide many environmental and social bene-fits for achieving low carbon high performance building. This paper describes the major findings of a research to de-velop technical guidelines for green roof systems in Hong Kong. The current knowledge and latest trends of green roof technology in the world have been studied. Useful information and experience were examined for assessing the potential benefits and key design factors. By investigating the system components and practical considerations of typical green roof projects in Hong Kong and other countries, key information is established for preparing the techni-cal guidelines. It is hoped that the research findings will not only fill in the information gap, but also enable the mak-ing of policy and strategy to promote better urban greenery and assess their performance systematically.
This paper investigates building energy efficiency standards in Hong Kong and mainland China. Building energy regulations are placed in the context of broad trends in energy supply and demand, and of energy policy. The paper offers an... more
This paper investigates building energy efficiency standards in Hong Kong and mainland China. Building energy regulations are placed in the context of broad trends in energy supply and demand, and of energy policy. The paper offers an overview of the requirements of specific energy-efficiency laws and codes for buildings, and discusses how these requirements affect building design. While its fundamental economic policy approach emphasizes free markets and minimum government intervention, Hong Kong has developed building energy codes for commercial and other buildings largely in response to the energy and environmental concerns. Mandatory code for building envelope was enforced since 1995; energy codes for building services were developed and implemented on a voluntary basis in recent years. Performance-based compliance options and better integration of the codes are needed for future development.
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Sustainable design of buildings and building services systems requires careful consideration of local climatic conditions and characteristics. Without good information and understanding of the local climate, it is not possible to study... more
Sustainable design of buildings and building services systems requires careful consideration of local climatic conditions and characteristics. Without good information and understanding of the local climate, it is not possible to study and achieve optimal building design and efficient building services operation. At present, the building designers, managers and researchers in Hong Kong often find it difficult to identify reliable and accurate weather data and information. Although some meteorological data and design conditions exist, they are not always applied correctly and well understood by the users, because of the data complexity and the abstraction of sustainable design concept. This paper will present the major findings of a research which aims to study and develop the important climatic data in Hong Kong for sustainable building design. By analysing the long- term weather data over the past 114 years and examining the practical issues of building design, useful climatic info...
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Many urban cities in the world are trying to enhance sustainability by improving urban greenery and promoting urban farming. By installing green roofs with urban farming, it is possible to achieve environmental, social and economic... more
Many urban cities in the world are trying to enhance sustainability by improving urban greenery and promoting urban farming. By installing green roofs with urban farming, it is possible to achieve environmental, social and economic sustainability for the buildings in urban cities because it can contribute to the mitigation of environmental problems, enhancement of community functions and development of urban food systems. This paper presents the findings of a research to investigate green roof urban farming for high-density urban cities like Hong Kong. The benefits and po-tential of rooftop urban farming are examined; some experiences in the world are described. The characteristics and constraints of high-density urban cities are studied and the situation in Hong Kong is evaluated critically. It is hoped that the research information will be useful to promoting sustainable buildings and environment in urban cities.
Climatic data are very important to building energy design and their development and selection should be considered carefully. The quality of climatic data and information will determine the effectiveness of building design strategies and... more
Climatic data are very important to building energy design and their development and selection should be considered carefully. The quality of climatic data and information will determine the effectiveness of building design strategies and the accuracy of design load and energy calculations. It is essential for developing countries like China to establish accurate and detailed weather data so as to achieve energy efficiency in buildings and sustainability in energy development. Weather data of Hong Kong and Mainland China have been investigated. Major climatic properties are examined to develop a better understanding of the climate of China which is diverse and complex. Quality of the climatic data and problems in developing them are studied. Important considerations for using climatic data in architectural design and building energy simulation are discussed to help improve building design and gain the maximum benefits from the local climatic conditions.