Co-Creating Mutual Benefits: BEAM Plus Establishes Foundation

Over the years, Zoe has managed and supervised more than 100 assessment projects, witnessing shifts in architectural trends and societal attitudes. In the past, developers viewed certification as merely a nice-to-have, but over the last decade, they have come to place great importance on achieving the relevant certification levels, as green buildings significantly reduce operational costs and enhance owners’ revenue generation while optimising expenditure.

Operational efficiency represents the most immediate benefit. Environmentally sustainable building systems lower both usage and maintenance expenses, thereby achieving long-term reductions in overall operational expenditures. To support existing buildings, BEAM Society Limited (BSL) provides a dedicated assessment tool— “BEAM Plus Existing Buildings Version 3.0”—which is periodically updated to offer state-of-the-art guidance tailored to diverse building typologies and conditions.

Clear goals, endless possibilities

Consultants guide the project team forward and stay grounded. Staying in the office to review design drawings, documentation, and data does not fulfil their professional responsibilities. Whether the project is in the pre-construction, construction, or post-construction phase, Zoe routinely visits construction sites in person. During the initial feasibility assessment and planning stage, she conducts on-site inspections to understand the project’s geographical context and surrounding infrastructure. She directly engages with the project team to clarify design intent and material selection strategies. By synthesising inputs and data from all participating teams, one can quantitatively evaluate the project’s performance across multiple domains. If the results from preliminary calculations deviate from client-defined targets, consultant revises the original plan rationally. If the aggregate score falls short of the target, consultants identify specific project areas to improve overall performance. In some cases, the project may nearly achieve a higher certification level than anticipated; in such circumstances, consultants proactively communicate with the owner and propose evidence-based recommendations to secure agreement on upgrading the certification level.

Naturally, raising the target is most straightforwardly achieved by increasing the construction budget. However, clients frequently seek to meet revised objectives without budgetary augmentation. Herein lies the critical importance of extensive professional experience and broad interdisciplinary knowledge. Green building assessment frameworks span a wide range of technical, environmental, economic, and social domains. Zoe must possess a comprehensive understanding of every stage of the process. Knowledge across diverse domains and disciplines is continuously evolving and advancing. The assessment tool provided by the association for new construction projects, “BEAM Plus New Buildings Version 2.0”, is periodically revised and supplemented in response to industry-wide developments. Frequently, Zoe also relies on this assessment tool to identify viable solutions.

To ensure smooth communication with all teams, Zoe must constantly expand her professional knowledge. New construction projects often take several years from planning to completion, and unforeseen circumstances can sometimes arise. At such times, the team’s flexibility and adaptability are put to the test; they must ensure the project achieves its intended objectives without compromising the overall construction schedule.

One project that left a particularly strong impression on Zoe was the successful attainment of Platinum certification under BEAM Plus for a remote infrastructure facility owned by a local energy company. This marked the company’s inaugural participation in the BEAM Plus assessment scheme. Owing to the site’s geographical remoteness, securing points for sustainable site development proved exceptionally challenging; yet the client insisted on achieving the highest possible Platinum rating. Fortunately, through meticulous analysis and rigorous research, a technically sound and practically feasible strategy was formulated, ultimately enabling a successful certification. Following this milestone, the company subsequently enrolled all analogous facilities in BEAM Plus assessments, and each has achieved the highest certification level.

‘ESG’ is the latest global trend. The first element of ESG is ‘Environmental’, which highlights its importance. Furthermore, the concept of Green Finance has emerged in recent years, with governments worldwide introducing environmental subsidies and regulations, leading to a corresponding increase in public environmental awareness. In Hong Kong, for instance, the government has recently implemented numerous policy measures and financial incentives to advance sustainability objectives. By choosing to spend with businesses that meet sustainability standards, consumers are taking action to support companies that invest in environmental protection, driving social progress.

For all building projects, participation in green building certification and attainment of a formal rating constitute a foundational prerequisite. Such ratings serve as key performance indicators (KPIs) communicated to customers, investors, and regulatory authorities alike, and represent an essential requirement for market recognition among most developers. Moreover, occupants of green buildings, whether residents or workers, benefit from enhanced indoor environmental quality and contribute to securing a more sustainable and prosperous future for themselves and subsequent generations. These two dimensions collectively constitute a virtuous cycle: sustained implementation reinforces systemic commitment to sustainability, progressively elevating environmental performance across the entire built environment. We can achieve a more comfortable and healthier society.

Over the past two years, the Hong Kong Government has been fully committed to developing the Northern Metropolis project, with numerous projects already underway, and Zoe has been involved in some of them. The Northern Metropolis is a major development project for Hong Kong, and it is highly prioritised and supported by the Central Government; consequently, the Government’s green building requirements for this new development area are naturally quite stringent.

The BEAM Plus assessment tools are continuously updated. Accordingly, Zoe routinely recommends that clients adopt its latest version as a key reference benchmark to enhance the environmental performance and energy efficiency of new projects. Given the rapid advancement and increasing sophistication of artificial intelligence technologies, their effective integration into project workflows yields significant synergistic benefits.

From customer representative to volunteering

Zoe has been elected as the Director of BEAM Society Limited (BSL) since June 2023. She is also the 1^st Vice Chairperson of the Water Use Expert Panel of BSL and serves as a member of several committees. Despite her busy schedule, she always supports the BSL’s various activities and initiatives.

Looking back, Zoe has been volunteering with BSL for over ten years. She first met submitting a BEAM assessment application on behalf of a client; as her involvement grew, she was invited to join the BEAM’s work. Her main motivation for joining was the association’s work, which she found deeply meaningful, and she thoroughly enjoyed working towards a common goal alongside like-minded, enthusiastic, and professional partners. Each member of the association is a highly capable professional in their own field, and everyone has come together to work towards the common goal of promoting green building. 

BEAM Society runs a programme called ‘Continuing Professional Development (CPD)’, which enables members to keep abreast of the latest green building assessment techniques and best practices through regular seminars, site visits, and online training courses. The sharing and exchange among members enable her to stay abreast of the latest knowledge and technologies across various fields. For example, she recently learnt about new technologies and products utilising ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI)’ in areas such as energy management and paint spraying through relevant courses.

The members work harmoniously and get on well; this friendly atmosphere puts her at ease. Whenever Zoe encounters a work problem she cannot solve, she asks her friends in the association for advice. Naturally, she is also more than happy to share her own experiences.

Promoting green building and environmental protection is not a one-off initiative, but an undertaking that requires long-term commitment. Obtaining a rating for a building project is not the end goal; rather, it is just the beginning. The years of hard work by everyone at the BSL have been dedicated to spreading this message far and wide. Therefore, Zoe also hopes to encourage more young people to join the association through her current work and work together for this mission that will never end.