HKUST Annual Report 2023-2024

49 HKUST Annual Report 2023-2024 * 2014-15 as baseline out in HKUST’s net-zero carbon building standards. The state-of-the-art Shaw Auditorium received multiple prestigious building awards for eco-design excellence over 2023-24, including: • Merit Award, Green Building Award 2023; • Gold Award (Best Alternative Project), MIPIM Asia Awards 2023; • Merit Award, CIBSE Hong Kong Region Awards 2023; • Honor Award (Open International Category), 2023 AIA Hong Kong Honors & Awards; and • Special Award for the Greatest Reduction in Estimated Annual Energy Consumption (Educational Category) 2022/23, BEAM Plus Certificate Presentation Ceremony 2023. Meanwhile, the comprehensive HKUST 2028 Sustainability Challenge advanced our on-going efforts to reduce energy, water consumption, and waste, and enhance the overall campus environment over 2023-24: Energy and Emissions Despite substantial campus expansion over the past decade, the increase in electricity usage was limited to a rise of 3.9% from the 2014 baseline*, and greenhouse gas emissions dropped by 34%. Diverse initiatives to save energy and lower emissions on campus include investing up to HK$40 million to upgrade 30% of campus parking spaces with charging capability for electric vehicles, continuously upgrading and replacing less energy-efficient equipment, and progressive activities to address energy consumption of laboratory energy consumption. Waste The University cut the total waste going to the landfill by over 47% compared with the 2014 baseline. Recyclables that were collected are up by over 860% compared to the 2014 baseline. As a demonstration of HKUST’s commitment to reducing waste by extending the life of our resources, acacia trees that were felled to make way for campus development were successfully harvested instead of going to landfill. The harvested acacia wood is being turned into campus furniture, HKUST souvenirs and awards, and has been incorporated into the sustainable design of the newly renovated Student Center and newly opened MSc Learning Hub in Kwun Tong.