Greening Systems
When When it came to creating a truly environmentally friendly fit-out, it was clear that the two crucial areas were HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning) and lighting. Kevin Yip, Technical Manager, ISG Asia explains: "We had a comprehensive sustainability design and construction management check-list for E&M [electrical and mechanical]. Every stage had to comply. For lighting, we looked issues such as lux levels, power efficiency and life-cycle and maintenance. We also set an appropriate maximum lighting power density as per the EMSD code of practice and CIBSE's guidelines."

The air-conditioning was just as important. VRV system was used and extra attention paid to ensure that chillers' piping were properly insulated. A CO2 sensor was installed to regulate fan speed and optimize the fresh air volume. Finally, enhanced control technology was incorporated into the VRV system to optimise energy performance. While this last point may seem quite to be a matter of common sense, this is something that is often overlooked on similar projects.

A new zoning approach to lighting was used by Standard Chartered. Instead of dividing the floorplate into geographical sections, the zones were created along functional lines. This improves how the lighting systems can be controlled to suit the occupants of the space. For example, the customer facing areas of the branch can be adjusted at closing, without affecting the back offices where staff will be working.

Results
The new branch opened to the public on 10 June 2008, and has already become a fixture in the local community. While the environmental results are still being tabulated (for some projected energy saving estimates see below), its clear that the branch is already a breakthrough in terms of changing the way the project team approaches fit-outs. Recognising the need to actively monitor performance, a comprehensive carbon management plan has been initiated. This can then be compared to energy savings, and will form a vital part of the bank's overall knowledge of its carbon footprint.

All in all, it has been a team effort. For example, the facilities management team played an important role in helping the project team select the right systems. "The partnership between Standard Chartered and ISG Asia allowed both teams to leverage their skills and knowledge," says Tso. Besides overcoming the commissioning cracks through which many eco-friendly systems disappear, their expertise was crucial in keeping an operation perspective in mind throughout the design and project stages. Looking back at a job well done, the team are ready to put the lessons learnt to use on the next project. "We're delighted to have built a better branch," she says, "We've made a good start." RFP

ENERGY SAVING
LED Sourcing
When selecting high-cost, high visibility items such as the external LED lighting, a realistic life-cycle costing approach was employed for purchase decision-making. Tso reveals that LED systems from five or six different suppliers were considered, and eventually the contracts went to Singaporean and Korean manufacturers. While these products cost up to twice as much as those from cheaper sources, there is a short payback period due to reduced maintenance and energy costs.

Waste not, want not
The construction process itself was carefully and closely managed by the team. Construction waste accounts for the lion's share of Hong Kong's landfill waste, so a number of initiatives were put in place to reduce the project's impact. The team adhered to the EPD's waste disposal scheme, which requires the separation of construction debris and other wastes. MDF hoarding and furring was used instead of timber, and existing and abortive materials were reused as much as possible. To avoid wet trade works on the site, interior drywall partitions and prefabricated materials were also specified.

One of the key challenges in this process, both for waste management and for the project overall, was achieving stakeholder buy-in, particularly from the contractors. Convincing them of the necessity of waste management (and of being conscious of the environmental impact of their work) was not an easy task. During the initial meetings, Vincent Chan, Project Manager, ISG Asia concedes, these contractors were not very receptive to the environmental requirements. However, as the project progressed, feedback became more positive. Communication with all parties concerned, particularly the "smaller players", is one aspect he highlights as essential to the success of projects of this type.

Materials
The use of environmentally friendly materials was a priority for the project team. "The eventual goal is to roll out this project in all our global branches, so we needed to source materials that could become standard environmental products for our projects," Tso explains. With the help of an electrical and mechanical consultant, the team began a comprehensive sourcing process, seeking vendors from across the region.

From Tac-tiles (a flooring system that adheres to existing floor tiles, avoiding glue use) to low-VOC paint, every material has been selected to reduce environmental impact. A holistic approach was used, with the fabrication of materials also taken into consideration. The wall paper for example, was manufactured with water-based inks, using a process that avoided the use of cadmium, mercury and biocides.

NOMINATE NOW

Subscribe Now

Sign Up for Ezine

Past Issues