Safeguarding Green Buildings: Advancing Sustainable Development
Chairperson of BEAM Society Limited (2024-2026),
Sr Frankie SO Hung Fai
• The Hong Kong Institute of Facility Management - Past President (2003-2004)
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Sr Frankie SO Hung Fai, the current Chairperson of BEAM Society Limited (BSL), has been in the construction industry since the 1970s. Graduating from the Hong Kong Polytechnic in quantity surveying, he has witnessed the dynamic growth of the local construction sector. In his career, Frankie has primarily focused on cost control in building projects, facilitating clients to complete their projects with cost-effective solutions. |
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Drawing on his expertise and extensive experience, Frankie has been a driving force in promoting the development of green buildings, striving to use environmentally friendly materials and construction techniques in the procurement process, thereby reducing carbon emissions and enhancing cost efficiency. He has also made substantial contributions to the development, strategy, management, and operations of BSL. |
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As the number of registered projects has seen a significant growth, the workload of BEAM Plus assessment became heavier, making the automation essential. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 further disrupted the work progress across industries, prompting BSL to urgently require an automated system to improve efficiency. With his experience in developing similar systems, Frankie volunteered to participate in the creation of the new iBEAM® assessment automation system. |
As he takes on the responsibilities of Chairperson, Frankie is full of ambition for BSL’s future work. "The government's gross floor area concessions, which requires BEAM Plus assessment & certification, have positively recognised BSL’s efforts in promoting green buildings. Furthermore, BEAM Plus assessment & certification can also serve as a tool for financial sector to appraise the green building projects seeking green financing. In the future, we will continue to align with the government policies, constantly optimising BEAM Plus assessment tools and procedures. In addition to intensifying efforts to promote BEAM Plus to existing buildings, we will also explore and develop appropriate tools for assessing more building types, such as restaurants and hotels to make the whole built environment greener."
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He adds that BSL is committed to training green building professionals and has partnered with six universities in Hong Kong to include the BEAM Affiliate training in relevant courses, which ensures the next generation learns about BEAM Plus early on. So far, the programme has trained 1,400 BEAM Affiliates. BSL has been continuously updating its curriculum and teaching materials, and launched a new BEAM Affiliate course in June 2024. "We plan to extend the course to the Greater Bay Area and regions outside Hong Kong, in a hope of nurturing and attracting talents for the industry to work together to advance green buildings."
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