During the “Energy-Saving, Emission-Reduction and Carbon Trading Symposium” today, a part of the ongoing 2009MIECF, Mr. Arnaldo Ernesto dos Santos, the Director of Office for the Development of the Energy Sector of the Macao SAR and Katherine M Y Choi, Principal Assistant Secretary for the Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR, respectively introduced their targets and work on promoting energy conservation and expanding energy efficiency in the two regions.

Maximise energy supply for economic expansion

Mr. Santos said that the main final energy types in Macao are electricity, kerosene, gas oil and diesel, and gasoline, and the largest consumers of energy are transportation and tourism and service industries.

He said that the main objectives of his office are to ensure the safety and stability of supply in clean energy at a reasonable price. To this end, the diversification of energy, infrastructure modernization and the deepening of regional cooperation would play important roles.

Step up legislation to maximise energy efficiency

Mr. Santos said that Macao has actively promoted energy conservation and efficiency in recent years by three ways, namely educating the public, promoting application of new technologies in public and private sectors, and creating legal framework and standards.

He said that the office is researching on guidelines for public lighting and construction of building, and regulations for price signal, energy labels, vehicles emissions and power plant emissions.

Hong Kong promotes energy efficient buildings

Ms Katherine M Y Choi, Principal Assistant Secretary for the Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR, said that almost 90% of Hong Kong’s electricity consumption is building-related, since it is a city full of high-rise buildings.

Therefore, the HKSAR Government is now preparing a legislative proposal, with an aim to introducing the mandatory implementation of Building Energy Codes (BEC), which covers lighting, air-conditioning, electrical, and lift and escalator.

“With the widely-developed energy-efficient technologies in the past decade, promoting energy efficiency becomes one of the most cost-effective measures to address the issue of climate change,” she said.

She said that active collaborations of the government, business sectors and the general community in promoting energy efficiency would bring us a greener and sustainable future.