High-density Sustainability and Liveability The case of Hong Kong

Prof. John NG Director, HKGBC

SB13 Hong Kong Regional Conference

Urban Population

2011 50% of total world population

2050 67% of total world population

Cities with population of 1M—5M

394 (2011) 573 (2025)

Megacities with population over 10M

3 (2011) 37 (2025) [9 in Asia]

Source: World Urbanization Prospects, The 2011 Revision, United Nations

The Crowded City

City becomes denser, especially in Asia

Population densities of world’s largest 125 cities:

1,550—29,000 inhabitants/ km2

e.g. Mumbai, Kolkata, Karachi, Lagos, Shenzhen,

Seoul, Taipei, Chennai, Bogota, Shanghai, Lima,

Beijing, Delhi, Kinshasa, Manila, Tehran, Jakata,

Tianjin, Bangalore, Ho Chi Minh City, Cairo, Bagdad,

Shenyang, Hyderabad, Sao Paolo, St. Petersburg, Mexico City,

Santiago, Singapore, Lahore, Hong Kong… Source: http://www.citymayors.com/statistics/largest-cities-density-125.html

“Urban liveability consists in the development of

attributes and resources that help make the

city pleasant to live in, and attractive for people,

visitors and business. “ --The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies

“Quality of life is often tied to the opportunities

available to people to the meaning and purposes they

attached to their lives and to the extent to which they

enjoy the possibilities available to them. ”

Liveability is…

How do we perceive high-density cities?

The Pessimist The Optimist

Overcrowding Compact

Crime Walkable

Disease Serviceable

Pollution Convenient

Poverty Efficient

High living costs Higher Wages

Congested Cityscape Diversity

Competition Vibrancy

Social Conflict Energy efficiency

Low Liveability High Liveability

High Density and Energy Consumption

Efficient public

transport system

Reduce reliance on

cars

North America

Europe Asia

Source: Newman and Kenworthy, 1989

Ecological Footprint

2008 Hong Kong

Bio-capacity per capita: 0.03 gha

Ecological footprint per capita: 4.7 gha

150 times of bio-capacity

“If everyone in the world lived the lifestyle we lead in Hong

Kong, we would need 2.6 Earths to fulfill

our needs.”

-WWF, 2013

Source: WWF-Hong Kong, 2013

International Surveys on Liveability

• World Liveability Survey

• Spatial Adjusted Liveability Index EIU

• 10 Principles for Liveable High-Density Cities

Centre for Liveable Cities

• Quality of Living Survey Mercer

Density and Liveability

High density

living is

inevitable.

Is high liveablity

possible ?

Source: Centre for Liveable Cities and Urban Land Institute 2013

EIU—Spatially Adjusted Liveability Index

1. Hong Kong 2. Amsterdam

3. Osaka

4. Paris

5. Sydney

6. Stockholm

7. Berlin

8. Toronto

9. Munich

10. Tokyo

Source: Economist Intelligence Unit, 2012

EIU—Spatially Adjusted Liveability Index

• Green Space, Sprawl, Natural Assets, Cultural Assets, Connectivity, Isolation, Pollution

Spatial Characterisistics

• Crime and Threat of terror, military conflict, and civil unrest Stability

• Availability and Quality of Private and Public Healthcare, Availability of over-the-counter drugs, General Healthcare Indicators

Healthcare • Humidity/ Temperature, Discomfort of Climate,

Corruption, Religious Restrictions, Censorship, Sporting and Culture Availability, Food & Drinks, Consumer Goods & Services

Culture & Environment

• Availability and Quality of Private Education, Public Education Education

• Quality of Road, Public Transport, International Links, Energy Provision, Water Provision and Telecommunications, Availability of Good Quality Housing

Infrastructure Source: Economist Intelligence Unit, 2012

Romer’s Tree Frog. Source: AFCD Local Mangroves. Source: AFCD

Wonders never cease

Chek Chau, Hong Kong Geo Park. Source: HK Geopark MTRC. Source: Discover Hong Kong

Mongkok. Source: Discover Hong Kong

Hong Kong in Numbers

7.15 million inhabitants

49 million visitors in 2011

1,104 km2 of total land area

6,620 persons/km2

4 million passengers by metro daily

3 million passengers by buses daily

Hong Kong in Numbers

263 km2 of Built-up Area, 23.7% of Land Area

845 km2 of Non-built-up Area, 76.3% of Land Area

40% of land as Countryside

24 Country Parks and 22 Special Areas for natural preservation

More than 30% of bird species in China found in HK

Challenge 1 Air Pollution

Worsening Air Pollution

Roadside Pollution

Marine Pollution

A Clean Air Plan for Hong

Kong (2013)

New DCV Replacement

Programme

Green Transport Fund

Urban Greening

Photo credits: Greenpeace (top), Wikemedia (bottom left), ENB (bottom right)

Challenge 2 Waste Management

New space for dump? 13,458 tonnes of waste to landfills everyday

Hong Kong Blueprint for Sustainable Use of Resources 2013—2022

Reduce 40% of MSW by 2022

Transform waste management structure

Photo credits: Greenpeace (top), Wikemedia (bottom left)

Challenge 3 Energy Reduction

Buildings account for:-

91% of Electricity Consumption

60% of GHG Emissions

Steering Committee on the

Promotion of Green Building

Formed in Policy Address 2012

Strengthen coordination among

government departments

Photo credit: EMSD

Challenge 4 Nature Preservation

Rich Biodiversity More than one-third of bird

species in China

Need for Development New development plans in NE

New Territories and Lok Ma

Chau Loop

UN Convention on

Biological Diversity

Mai Po Natural Reserve. Photo credit: WWF-HK

Photo credits: http://www.nentnda.gov.hk/ (middle), http://www.lmcloop.gov.hk/eng/study.html (bottom)

Challenge 5 Housing Undersupply

Lack of affordable housing

Caged homes in a world class

city?

Long Term Housing

Strategy Consultation

Document

470,000 Units—Overall housing

supply target in next 10 years

Photo credits: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/theweekinpictures/2690758/The-week-in-pictures-6-September-2008.html (top)

http://www.news.com.au/realestate/news/hong-kong-poor-live-in-metal-cages-amid-soaring-cost-of-housing/story-fncq3gat-1226573061403 (bottom)

Challenge 6 Supply of Office Space

Full capacity of old CBD Hamper Future business activities

Revitalization of Kowloon

East Establish CBD2 in former

industrial district

Set up “Energizing Kowloon

East Office” to oversee the

revitalization of the district

Photo credit: www.ekeo.gov.hk (top)

What can Hong Kong do?

HK3030 Campaign

Buildings in Hong Kong accounts for

91% Electricity

60% GHG Emissions

Target Reduction 30%

Electricity Consumption in Buildings

by 2030 (Baseline:2005)

Source: HK3030 Report, HKGBC 2012

BEAM Plus Assessment Tools

BEAM Plus New Buildings

BEAM Plus Existing Buildings

BEAM Plus Interiors

BEAM Plus in Numbers

Total Registered Projects: 405 Total Assessed Projects: 74

Project type No. of Projects

Residential 175

Commercial 69

GIC 77

Industrial 8

Mixed Use 46

Hotel 29

Others 1

BEAM Plus

Rating No. of Projects

Platinum 19

Gold 17

Silver 9

Bronze 14

Unclassified 15

Data as of August 2013

Including PA and FA, for both BEAM Plus NB and EB Including both BEAM Plus NB and EB

Development of BEAM Plus

• To be launched in 2014 BEAM Plus Community

• To be launched in 2014 BEAM Plus NB Major Upgrade

• To be launched in 2015 BEAM Plus EB Major Revision

• To be launched in 2015 BEAM Plus Major Renovation

Photo credits, bet2.hkbu.edu.hk Photo credits: ZCB

Performance of Assessed Projects (by scores)

Data as of July 2013

Performance of Assessed Projects (by Aspects)

Data as of July 2013

BEAM Plus—Better Performance

Items % of projects in

full scores

A. Liveability Related

1. Meeting at least 50% of Hong Kong’s Urban Design Guidelines 100%

2. Good security provisions for wellbeing amongst building users 100%

3. Good interior lighting quality 100%

4. Assurance of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) 94% to 100%

5. Provision for disabled 94%

6. Amenity features for quality of life and improve operation and maintenance 81%

B. High Density Related

1. Good noise control from building equipment 100%

2. Healthy drainage and air-conditioning system design 100%

3. Good pollution management during construction 94% to 100%

4. Maintain neighbourhood daylight access 88%

5. Mitigation of vibration from building services and external sources 88%

C. Resource/ Environmental Related

1. Use of water-efficient appliances to reduce effluent discharge 100%

2. Metering, commissioning procedures and manuals for energy use reduction 88% to 100%

3. Regional Materials 94%

4. Reduce use of ozone depleting substances 88%

5. Sustainable timber 81% Data as of July 2013

BEAM Plus Energy Performance

Rating achieved

% of projects

got the rating

Average % of

annual energy

reduction

Platinum 28 30

Gold 21 23

Silver 10 17

Bronze 23 14

Data as of July 2013

BEAM Plus—Room for Improvement Items

% of projects in

full scores

A. Liveability Related

1. Microclimate around buildings 2%

2. Greenery on site and use of pervious materials 7%

3. Conserve and protect cultural heritage 9%

4. Comfort through natural lighting and natural ventilation 7% to 16%

B. High Density Related

1. Impact noise isolation 0%

2. Energy efficient building form, layout and orientation 9%

C. Resource/ Environmental Related

1. Rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling 0%

2. Use of rapidly renewable materials 0%

3. Use of renewable energy 4%

4. Use of recycled content 5%

5. Use of prefabrication 5%

6. Reuse existing buildings 8%

7. Minimising embodied energy in structural materials 11%

8. Local transport, i.e. discourage the use of private vehicles 16% Data as of July 2013

Conclusion

• Sustainability and liveability are achievable in high

density living;

• Building sector is crucial in reducing energy consumption

and nurture liveable environment;

• Green building assessment tools help to transform

building practices; create greener, healthier and more

liveable buildings and environment;

• Areas identified for potential improvement;

• Calling to holistic approach and extend to green

communities and neighborhood development.

Thank you

Acknowledgements The author would like to thank the Secretariats of the HKGBC for providing data. Particular thanks are extended to Ms

Flora Lim and Ir Eddy Lau of HKGBC for their assistance in compiling the paper and presentation. The author would also like to thank the efforts of members of the task force on BEAM Plus Community/Neighbourhood Feasibility Study led by

Mr. Larry Poon, members of the task force on Existing Building led by Mr. K M So, Prof Joseph M Chan for his valuable advice and the project owners for the use of their project information in the study and analysis.