Setting a New Benchmark in Green Building Development and Hong Kong-Shenzhen Collaboration: Qianhai Takes the Lead in Innovative Standard Development by Launching The Environmental Assessment Standards for Green Buildings in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong

Mr. XIE Hui-hui, Deputy Director-General of the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone provided an overview of the Qianhai Green Building Standards. It is collaboratively published by the Housing and Construction Bureau of Shenzhen and the Authority of Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, known as the “Authority of Qianhai”, with contributions from the BEAM Society Limited and the China Academy of Building Research, along with eight leading green building institutions in the Greater Bay Area's green building sector, including the Hong Kong Green Building Council, Shenzhen Qianhai-Hong Kong Green Building Certification and Advisory Limited, and Shenzhen Green Building Association. This standard is formulated based on the New Buildings and Existing Buildings tools of the Hong Kong BEAM Plus, while also incorporating local practices and regulatory requirements specific to Qianhai and Shenzhen. By combining Hong Kong’s top-notched green building standards with the practical realities of Qianhai and Shenzhen, the standard provides a robust and accurate framework for measuring the green building performance of both new and existing structures in the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone.

Implementing the Qianhai Green Building Standards will enhance the coordination of green building assessments and certifications across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, create a viable pathway for large-scale low-carbon development in Qianhai and Shenzhen and facilitate the internationalization of the green building industry and green financial services in both regions.

To implement the measures outlined in the Comprehensive Deepening Reform and Opening Up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone and the Qianhai Overall Development Plan, the Qianhai Authority remains committed to facilitating collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, particularly in integrating building standards and practices within the construction and engineering fields. In September 2024, the Qianhai Authority signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the BEAM Society Limited, creating a collaborative framework focused on five key areas: pilot green building assessments, standard development, talent cultivation, digital platform development, and coordination of green financing. In November of the same year, the Qianhai Authority, along with the China Academy of Building Research and the BEAM Society Limited, began developing the Qianhai Green Building Standards, which aims to provide a green building assessment tool covering the entire building lifecycle. By December, iconic buildings in Qianhai, including the Qianhai Chow Tai Fook Financial Tower, were selected for pilot assessments, providing empirical support for the development of the Qianhai Green Building Standard. The Qianhai Green Building Standards completed all its development and testing in just 9 months, significantly faster than the typical 2-year timeframe required for conventional construction and engineering standards.

Mr. FUNG Yiu Man, Acting Head of Project Strategy and Governance Office of the Development Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government remarked that the Qianhai Green Building Standards serve as a prime example of collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in establishing construction and engineering standards. He expressed hope that the two regions will continue to work together to promote the development of green buildings in the Greater Bay Area, progressing towards the national dual carbon goal.

The Deputy Director-General, Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong Province highlighted that the Qianhai Green Building Standards create a pathway for mainland practitioners to gain professional qualifications in Hong Kong through training, thereby fostering collaboration in professional development between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. He also noted that these standards establish a connection between green construction and green capital, enabling opportunities for cross-border green financing through green building certification, which helps address funding challenges for low-carbon transitions.

The Qianhai Green Building Standards have three innovative features:

“One Assessment, Dual Certification" Mechanism: Projects can obtain dual certification according to both Qianhai standards and Hong Kong BEAM Plus assessment standards through a single assessment process, lowering the cost of multiple certifications.

Channelling Green Capital into Low-Carbon Building Technologies: The framework allows accurate quantification of low-carbon building technologies, facilitating green capital allocation, and enabling access to green financing opportunities in Hong Kong.

Building a Green Building Professional Talent Platform in the Greater Bay Area: The standards encourage alignment of professional qualifications, allowing project managers to earn multiple regional credentials through a single training and assessment process.

During development, four iconic building projects, including the Qianhai Chow Tai Fook Finance Centre, were selected for pilot certification using Hong Kong BEAM Plus. All projects achieved excellent results, proving feasibility and international standard compliance. These include the WeBank Tower (Platinum), Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Industrial Park Project (Platinum), Qianhai Chow Tai Fook Finance Tower (Excellent), and Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub Phase II (Excellent).

So far, 15 projects in Qianhai have committed to implementing the standards, covering both new and existing buildings, embedding sustainability as a core identity of the zone.

The BEAM Society Limited (BSL) will fully support implementation by facilitating dual certification, establishing a talent and training platform, and creating a robust framework for assessment and data governance. BSL is also promoting BEAM Plus advisory services beyond Hong Kong, with over 30 projects in Mainland China and expansion into Southeast Asia and Belt and Road regions.

Seven organizations, encompassing a total of 15 projects have pledged to implement the Qianhai Green Building Standards and the "One Assessment, Dual Certification" mechanism

Four pilot projects in Qianhai have been awarded with BEAM Plus certificate