Category Archives: John Herbert
Building Energy Label – Mandatory
Here in Hong Kong 89% of all electricity consumed, and 63% of Carbon emission are created from our buildings, and these rise every year. I had argued that mandatory building labelling is the future, and until customers can see an … Continue reading
Presenting at IDT Conference 3-5th December 2009
It has been a busy recently, and I had completely forgotten about the Innovation Design Technology (IDT) conference next week, it will will be held on 3-5th December 2009 in Hong Kong. I will be speaking at the conference, during … Continue reading
Funding energy efficiency, PRD, China
The Guangdong municipal Government in South China has created an energy efficiency funding scheme, not unlike CP3 (Cleaner Production Partnership Programme). For energy and environmental improvement projects RMB 300 million (Approx. US$ 44 million) has been allocated for 1:1 cost … Continue reading
More focus on climate change
The SCMP newspaper (unlinkable article) reports a survey that found …..two-thirds of Hong Kong’s respondents thought the government should place a higher priority on climate change, while 30 per cent thought the current priority was appropriate Now I haven’t seen … Continue reading
You’re paying too much
Those shoes you bought last week, that new furniture you ordered, your laundry bill, even that trendy shirt cost too much. Why? because the manufacturers, and their supply chain have wasted energy, that in turn means higher costs that ultimately … Continue reading
Energy Efficiency is Not Rocket Science
Hong Kong is a great location, indeed I am fortunate to meet a great number of smart, intelligent people that travel through Hong Kong, this week alone I met a Government Minister, a project developer, and financiers from the energy … Continue reading
Alternate EE models
Energy Efficiency might well be the fastest, least intrusive and lowest cost solution to implement energy conservation projects that also lowers your carbon footprint, the McKinsey report even highlights these opportunities. However, it does not take way from the fact … Continue reading
What tune does your building play?
Buildings account for the largest proportion of greenhouse emissions in Hong Kong, currently that is sixty three percent (63%) of Hong Kong’s carbon footprint. Whilst initiatives for new buildings are indeed welcome, the influence of the measures are limited to … Continue reading
Green Building Innovation
In the sustainable building sector fortune telling is easy, however future-proofing is not. Over time what could be considered “state of the art” today is destined to become tomorrow’s rating tool baseline case. Translating that into project work, it means … Continue reading
Lost Energy Efficiency Opportunites
Often you don’t even need to go inside a building to see opportunities for energy conservation in Hong Kong. Sadly this opportunity (refer photograph) was many lost years ago at design stage when the lighting control strategy was planned and … Continue reading
upgrading to LEED v3 or 2009?
The confusing launch of USGBC’s LEED v3 or it is LEED 2009? has launched. As the graphic and schedule below shows that LEED v3 / LEED 2009 becomes compulsory for new green building projects after 27 JUNE 2009. March 27: … Continue reading
International Energy Efficiency Finance Protocol
Hope on the horizon for ESCO’s and Energy efficiency projects? EVO has released (April 2009) a new publication (cover see right) titled International Energy Efficiency Financing Protocol or IEEFP to tackle the issue of bank training. This guide is based … Continue reading
[event] Greenbuild Asia 7-9 July 2009
Save the date! Greenbuild Asia 2009 is coming back to Hong Kong in 2009. Indeed I am fortunate to be chosen to speak on the green building expert panel (PM 9th July 2009). It should be interesting event, awareness of … Continue reading
Suffering Contention?
If the number of conference and seminar invitations is any gauge of activity, there is an obvious, and intentional increasing interest in green building and energy efficiency sectors so what is the connection with contention? Let’s be honest for a … Continue reading
Carbon Reporting with only one catch.
Really the Hong Kong the government is so far behind the curve in environmental matters I am surprised that it is not a serious concern for business, or are they blind to the risk? Instead of leading Asia, we lag … Continue reading
Cleaner Factory Production in China
What does Cleaner Production mean? All manufacturing operations require energy for operations and or create air pollution. An independent audit of the energy consumption and processes in a production facility will identify areas for improvement of the energy efficiency. If … Continue reading
A Systems Approach for Total Cooling Design
I have long advocated for the “Whole Building Design” approach, it has been an uphill struggle without doubt. The renewed interest in green building has certainly increased awareness of this important skill. Now more help is at hand the Whole … Continue reading
Wasting energy with incandescent lighting
Incandescent lamps wasting energy
Business as usual is not an option
I rarely follow the advice of so called “business gurus”, perhaps I should. But I do read Seth Godin’s blog. If you have never heard of Seth, he is the author of several best selling business books in the USA. … Continue reading
Saving Energy in Steam Systems
Opportunities to lower operating costs for Steam systems using energy efficiency improvements – there are plenty opportunities to improve industrial energy efficiency for steam systems in China, and elsewhere in Asia. And some projects may also qualify to earn extra … Continue reading
