39 38 HKUST Annual Report 2020-2021 SUSTAINABLE HORIZONS EXPANDING NEXT-LEVEL OPERATIONS AND PERFORMANCE The 2028 Challenge extends targets to build toward the goals of zero-carbon, zero-waste, and net-positive environmental campus operations. Along with reducing energy, greenhouse gases, and waste to landfill, the University will now also focus on water, landscape, and biodiversity. In 2020-21, waste generation was already 57% less than the 2014 baseline, with the range of recyclables extended to 16 following the launch of a beverage carton recycling program. The 2028 waste target seeks a reduction of 75%. Regarding energy, the new target is to reach a 15% reduction compared with 2014, which is above the Hong Kong government’s target of 11% over the same time frame. In the past year, energy consumption increased by 2.8 percentage points due to the resumption of normal work arrangements following COVID-19 restrictions and campus construction. However, overall campus consumption was 5.1% below the 2014 baseline despite an expansion of over 8% in campus space. To help the community achieve the 2028 Challenge goals, significant energy-efficient initiatives have been rolled out over 2020-21, including: With the University’s holistic “Living Lab” campus concept successfully introduced and the new sustainability master plan “2028 Sustainability Challenge” launched, HKUST is set to drive operations, community, research and education overall to fresh heights of innovative environmental leadership. Successful approaches implemented at the Clear Water Bay campus will also be integrated at HKUST(GZ) • New freshwater cooling towers installed to increase overall plant efficiency and chiller plant resilience, with estimated annual energy savings of about 1.8 million kilowatt hours (kWh). • A chiller replacement project completed and supported by the CLP Eco Building Fund is expected to deliver estimated annual energy savings of 970,000kWh in coming years. • The launch of Hong Kong’s largest solar power system, with around 8,000 solar panels installed at over 50 campus locations. The panels are set to generate an average of around $5 million per year for the University under CLP’s current Feed-in Tariff Scheme. The income will be used for energy efficiency and carbon reduction projects. Chiller replacement project bringing annual energy savings of 970,000kWh New freshwater cooling towers saving energy usage of 1.8 million kWh solar panels 8,000 installed at over 50 campus locations EMPOWERING MINDSETS FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES HKUST aims to play a leading role in demonstrating how to achieve net zero carbon, in line with Hong Kong’s target to become carbon neutral by 2050. A working group will envision and define future pathways and action plans in areas of campus operations, research, policy, and education. Meanwhile, to propel forward campus engagement, a kickoff event for the HKUST 2050 Net-Zero Carbon Workshop Series in Spring 2021 discussed opportunities for project ideas and research arising from this drive. Beyond the University’s own campus, HKUST served as the 2020 convenor of the Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consort ium, compr ising the eight publ icly funded universities. In this role, HKUST kept up members’ collaborative spirit during COVID-19 limitations via working groups on sustainability performance, education, and campaigns. In Spring 2021, the Hong Kong Jockey Club announced its support for the consortium to launch a Sustainable Consumer Program, led by HKUST, to encourage over 100,000 students to adopt responsible consumption patterns in food, energy, water, and other consumables. SUSTAINABLE HORIZONS
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