Page 37 - Property Sustainability Report 2015

Emission Control and Mitigation
Sha Tin racecourse: Review of the lighting system
There are currently a total of 24 generator units at Sha Tin Racecourse (STRC), 4 of which serve as operational back-ups for the oodlights. Being mechanical devices, the generators have a nite start-up time and the oodlights, once dimmed from a power cut, need time to re-illuminate. This means that under the current set-up, unless the generators are running continuously as “production generators,” there will be an interruption in power supply in the event of a power failure from the city mains and that will lead to a dimming of the track lights.
Sudden blackouts of track lighting during the early evening or night race meetings are serious safety hazard for the jockeys. Accordingly, the 4 oodlight generators currently operate as continuous “production generators” to ensure no interruption to the minimum 1/3 lighting capacity required for jockeys’ racing safety. However, these generators are emitting air pollutants when supporting oodlight operation.
With the support of the government’s Environmental Protection Department, we have introduced an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) to each production generator to enable them to operate in standby mode. This would fundamentally reduce emissions and the carbon footprint arising from these generators. The switch to standby mode for all 4 relevant generators will be completed by October 2016. A third-party study shows a reduction of 13% annual average NO2 level and 70% reduction of highest 1-hour NO2 level.
OUR DIRECT AND INDIRECT CO2e EMISSIONS:
Other emissions control initiatives include:
Unit 2010/11 2011/12
2012/13 2013/14
2014/15
• •
•
•
Use of low or no volatile organic compound paint adhesives in all new renovation projects.
Selection of high-e ciency refrigerants with low ozone-depleting potential and global warming potential for new chillers as far as practicable.
Progressive replacement of old
type chloro uorocarbon (CFC) and Hydrochloro uorocarbons (HCFC) refrigerants with more environmentally friendly hydro uorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants for split-type air conditioners.
Use of bio-diesel in generators at HVRC and STRC.
Property Facilities
Direct CO2e emissions
Property Construction Projects
Indirect CO2e emissions
Tonnes
1,169
1,217
1,339
1,308
993
Indirect CO2e emissions
Tonnes
91,070
93,895
91,829
93,292
90,178
Direct CO2e emissions
Tonnes
0
812
1,415
715
88
Tonnes
23
384
873
1,392
1,175
Remarks: • The signi cant decrease in direct CO2 emissions in Property Facilities is due to the avoidance of diesel for morning track works.
• The signi cant decrease in direct CO2 emissions in Property Construction Projects is due to the completion of SCTC construction.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club – Property Sustainability Report 2015 37
OUR ENVIRONMENT