Sustainability has become an increasingly crucial aspect for businesses across various industries. As environmental concerns escalate, consumers and stakeholders are becoming more conscious of the environmental impact of their choices. Embracing sustainability benefits the planet and brings several business advantages, including cost savings, enhanced brand reputation, and increased customer loyalty.
As a bustling global hub for trade and commerce, Hong Kong heeds the call for sustainability. Several businesses in the region have recognized the significance of adopting eco-friendly practices to meet the expectations of their stakeholders and contribute to a greener future.
Understanding Sustainability
Sustainability is integrating environmental, social, and economic considerations into business operations to create a greener and more equitable world but also gain a competitive edge, enhance their brand reputation, and drive innovation. At its core, it aims to standardise operations that will meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Increasing awareness about environmental issues, such as climate change, resource depletion, and pollution, has compelled businesses to address their ecological impact. Customers, employees, and stakeholders are demanding sustainable practices, and businesses across the globe now recognize the importance of being responsible stewards of the environment.
Importance of Sustainability for Businesses
Embracing sustainability is crucial for companies due to its multifaceted benefits. Sustainability aids in environmental protection by reducing resource consumption, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to climate change mitigation and natural resource conservation. It also enhances a company’s reputation and brand image, attracting environmentally and socially conscious consumers who prioritise sustainability.
According to a study from the Environmental Defense Fund, 9 out 10 business leaders said consumers would hold them accountable for the environmental impact they make through their business. As a result, businesses that have fully adapted sustainability into their business operations and go-to-market offers may benefit from increased customer loyalty and competitiveness.
Most importantly, sustainability drives innovation and cost savings by prompting companies to reevaluate processes, seek efficient alternatives, and tap into new markets, resulting in reduced costs, improved efficiency, and enhanced opportunities for growth. By prioritising sustainability, companies can position themselves for long-term success in an evolving business landscape.
Hong Kong’s Sustainability Efforts
To further understand how Hong Kong is embracing a sustainable future, here are the green building certifications available in the country today:
BEAM Plus (Building Environmental Assessment Method)
BEAM Plus is a green building certification scheme that covers the entire lifecycle of a new building project, including demolition, planning, design, construction, and commissioning. It aims to reduce environmental impacts while improving environmental quality and user satisfaction. The Certification applies to all types of new buildings, from residential to commercial, industrial, and more. Major renovations and alterations are also eligible for Certification under BEAM Plus.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
LEED is the most widely used green building rating system globally. It offers a framework for creating healthy, efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification has become a symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership, with millions living, working, and learning in LEED-certified buildings worldwide. The Certification applies to various building types, including new construction, interiors, operations, maintenance, and core and shell projects.
WELL Certification
WELL Certification focuses on enhancing occupant health and well-being within buildings. This program enables organisations to monitor building performance and gather employee feedback, promoting data-driven health and well-being efforts. WELL Certification supports businesses in advancing their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting initiatives.
RESET (Regenerative Ecological, Social, and Economic Targets)
RESET is a unique green building standard that prioritises indoor air quality (IAQ). Unlike traditional certifications, RESET is sensor-based and performance-driven, necessitating continuous monitoring of IAQ throughout a project’s lifetime. This approach allows for adjustments to account for changes in air quality due to various factors, ensuring the health and comfort of building occupants. RESET certification can be applied to commercial interiors and building core and shell projects.
Hong Kong’s commitment to sustainability is evident through the availability of green building certifications like BEAM Plus, LEED, WELL, and RESET, which reflect the city’s efforts to create environmentally friendly and occupant-centric buildings.
BSL’s Experience with Sustainability Standards
With extensive experience working on built environments with various sustainability standards, BSL is at the forefront of transforming businesses for a greener future. BSL’s products and expertise help businesses achieve Certification under BEAM Plus, LEED, WELL, and RESET, driving their sustainability efforts forward.
BSL Product Offerings
One of BSL’s major efforts in upholding sustainability is its wide array of energy-efficient products. Some of their most notable offers include:
- Thinklite Lighting – Thinklite Lighting offers energy-efficient and environmentally friendly lighting solutions. By utilising advanced LED technologies, businesses can reduce energy consumption, lower carbon emissions, and create a more sustainable workspace.
- Awair and Airthings IAQ Sensors – Awair and Airthings IAQ sensors provide real-time monitoring of indoor air quality, including temperature, humidity, CO2 levels, and other pollutants. With this data-driven approach, businesses can take proactive measures to improve the health and well-being of occupants while ensuring optimal IAQ standards.
- Smart Energy Meters – Smart energy meters enable businesses to monitor and manage their energy consumption more efficiently. By identifying energy-saving opportunities and optimising energy usage, businesses can significantly reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a greener future.
BSL’s wide range of energy-efficient products empowers businesses to make sustainable choices, reducing energy consumption, improving indoor air quality, and contributing to a greener future.
BSL Sustainability Projects
BSL has supported its clients’ ESG goals by implementing effective and measurable solutions. Here are some notable projects in which BSL helped leading Hong Kong companies meet sustainability standards:
Goodman
Goodman, a global industrial property group, aimed to lead in environmental and social governance (ESG) and sought to upgrade its properties with sustainable solutions. BSL was chosen to assist in the process. BSL implemented advanced and certified indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring technology, ensuring real-time tracking and immediate alerts when pollutants reached unsafe levels. Continuous air disinfection provided 99.9% germ-free indoor air, as tested by a government-certified lab.
BSL supported Goodman’s pursuit of RESET® certification, the world’s first sensor-based and performance-driven data standard for the built environment. By rolling out energy efficiency projects, BSL continues to help Goodman achieve its ESG and sustainability goals.
JLL
JLL, a Fortune 500 company specialising in real estate and investment management, sought to enhance sustainability and efficiency at its Hong Kong office. BSL collaborated with JLL’s sustainability, engineering, and facilities teams to improve the LEED Platinum-certified office further. The office faced challenges with its lighting control system, which only worked with traditional fluorescent tubes, wasting energy and generating heat.
BSL’s Thinklite LED was the solution, instantly reducing energy usage by 50% with easy installation on existing fixtures. The driverless LED technology is seamlessly integrated with JLL’s lighting control system, creating a comfortable and energy-efficient environment. This retrofit project resulted in significant energy savings, reduced carbon emissions, and lower maintenance costs, contributing to JLL’s net-zero journey.
Kerry Centre Hong Kong
Kerry Centre Hong Kong, the global headquarter of Kerry Properties and other prestigious companies, sought to enhance its building’s sustainability and occupant well-being. BSL, a leading smart building and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) specialist was engaged to upgrade the building. By deploying advanced sensors and a data visualisation platform, BSL enabled real-time monitoring and analysis of air quality and HVAC systems. This ensured a constant supply of healthy air to occupants and optimised the HVAC system’s performance.
The RESET certification reflects Kerry Centre’s commitment to sustainability and occupant comfort, with BSL playing a pivotal role in meeting the stringent standards for building performance and occupant well-being.
BSL’s energy-efficient and smart building solutions offer retrofittable options for existing buildings, making it easy to deploy and contribute to achieving net-zero and ESG goals. The success of these projects highlights BSL’s expertise in upgrading buildings to be smarter, healthier and more efficient.
Final Thought
Sustainability is no longer an option but necessary for businesses looking to create a greener future and maintain their competitive edge. Hong Kong businesses are embracing sustainability by adopting certifications such as BEAM Plus, LEED, WELL, and RESET. With BSL’s experience, expertise, and innovative products, companies can successfully navigate the path toward sustainability, benefiting both their bottom line and the planet. Embracing sustainability is a responsibility and an opportunity for businesses to thrive in an eco-conscious world.