Evaporative cooling is an environmentally friendly and energy efficient cooling method that only ... 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...
Green roofs can provide several environmental benefits in urban cities and can also create habita... 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...
Building information modelling (BIM) has grown significantly in the world and has become a very i... 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 ... 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.
Proceedings of the Shenyang-Hong Kong Joint …, 2004
Site offices are essential provisions for all construction works including building and civil eng... 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.
Prefabrication techniques have been applied to residential buildings in Hong Kong for many years.... 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.
Exergy analysis is a useful thermodynamic technique for assessing and improving the efficiency of... 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...
Green living wall is an emerging new technology and a sustainable design strategy for high perfor... 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...
Hotel buildings in Hong Kong use significant amount of energy and the potential for energy saving... 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...
Many urban cities in the world are trying to enhance sustainability by improving urban greenery a... 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.
Lighting system is very important for university classrooms and other educational facilities beca... 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 ...
Chilled ceiling systems are a relatively new approach to cooling and they have been applied in Eu... 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...
Benchmarking is the continuous activity of identifying, understanding and adapting best practice ... 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...
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Study Team wishes to acknowledge the comments, opinions and valuable informat... more ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Study Team wishes to acknowledge the comments, opinions and valuable information provided by the following government departments, public institutions and private organizations.
Transitional spaces refer to those spaces located in-between interior and exterior environments a... 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...
Evaporative cooling is an environmentally friendly and energy efficient cooling method that only ... 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...
Green roofs can provide several environmental benefits in urban cities and can also create habita... 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...
Building information modelling (BIM) has grown significantly in the world and has become a very i... 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 ... 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.
Proceedings of the Shenyang-Hong Kong Joint …, 2004
Site offices are essential provisions for all construction works including building and civil eng... 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.
Prefabrication techniques have been applied to residential buildings in Hong Kong for many years.... 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.
Exergy analysis is a useful thermodynamic technique for assessing and improving the efficiency of... 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...
Green living wall is an emerging new technology and a sustainable design strategy for high perfor... 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...
Hotel buildings in Hong Kong use significant amount of energy and the potential for energy saving... 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...
Many urban cities in the world are trying to enhance sustainability by improving urban greenery a... 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.
Lighting system is very important for university classrooms and other educational facilities beca... 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 ...
Chilled ceiling systems are a relatively new approach to cooling and they have been applied in Eu... 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...
Benchmarking is the continuous activity of identifying, understanding and adapting best practice ... 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...
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Study Team wishes to acknowledge the comments, opinions and valuable informat... more ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Study Team wishes to acknowledge the comments, opinions and valuable information provided by the following government departments, public institutions and private organizations.
Transitional spaces refer to those spaces located in-between interior and exterior environments a... 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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