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As stipulated in our Environmental Policy we make every effort to conserve natural resources in our production plants, distribution network and office operations, and also encourage our contractors, suppliers and customers to do the same.
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Energy
Our buildings and other physical assets are designed to make the most efficient use of the energy we consume. Our North Point Headquarters building has attained green building standards such as BEAM Plus, while our data centres in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified.
To help our residential customers save energy, we have developed a wide range of energy-efficient appliances with eco-friendly features and add new models every year to our product range of more than 200 appliance models. All eligible water heaters and cooking appliances bear the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department’s Voluntary Energy Labelling Scheme label in Hong Kong, to assist end users in making smart buying decisions.
Water and Effluents
We make a strong effort to use the water we consume more efficiently in our operations. It is utilised as a raw material, for cooling and heating and for domestic use in our offices, customer centres and natural gas stations. The water we consume comes mainly from local municipal water suppliers; in the Chinese mainland, we also use surface water in our water supply business.
Water is discharged to municipal wastewater treatment plants or into the surface water after it has been treated. The quality of effluent is monitored to ensure compliance with local regulatory standards. We also consume recycled water where feasible.
To conserve water and reduce effluents, we employ new technologies and enhance production processes to reuse and recycle water/ effluents. Surveys and inspections of our water pipe network are carried out to identify leakage. In our offices and customer centres, we have installed water-saving devices such as dual flush toilets and automatic faucets. To ensure our water is used efficiently, we track water withdrawal and discharge, and set internal targets for continuous improvement.
Our water supply and wastewater treatment business in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and China Water Limited, also hosts various activities, such as tours of its water plant facilities, to educate the public on the need to protect and conserve water resources.
Waste
Our waste management approach is underpinned by the “5R” principle of Replace, Reduce, Reuse, Recover and Recycle, not only within our own operations but also those of our upstream suppliers and downstream customers.
We strive to reduce waste we generate and reuse or recycle to the fullest extent. We ensure all hazardous wastes are treated and collected in strict compliance with local regulations. We also monitor our waste generation on a regular basis by tracking both the solid and liquid waste that is produced and recycled at our facilities.
The waste generated in core gas business includes municipal solid, construction and chemical waste such as spent catalysts within our operations. Our upstream waste includes drilling fluids and cuttings, while downstream waste is minimal.
For our retail gas appliance business, the major waste generated within our operations and upstream is packaging. Our manufacturers and suppliers are constantly adopting new measures to reduce packaging and use the environmentally friendly packaging. With the cooperation of manufacturers, we have eliminated the polyfoam in our packaging for over 90% of our appliances imported from Asia. Used gas appliances from downstream customers are managed under our Used Gas Appliance Recycling Programme.