Holistic Perspective, Meticulous Attention to Detail

With more than 20 years of experience in environmental engineering, Ms Zoe CHAN Ka Yee has served as a project consultant and a BEAM Pro, helping more than 50 projects achieve gold or platinum ratings in provisional and final assessments under BEAM accreditation. Achieving BEAM Plus certification is not a simple matter, and consultants must be closely involved throughout the process. Even after a project has achieved a rating, ongoing monitoring is required.

As a BEAM Plus project consultant, Zoe conducts rigorous technical evaluations across multiple domains, including land contamination, noise impacts, storm water and wastewater management, energy performance, and waste management. As a core member of each project team, she applies specialised expertise and meticulous analytical rigour to forecast certification levels and ensure consistent alignment between the project’s execution and its original sustainability objectives throughout the extended construction period.

Zoe admits that consultancy work requires not only knowledge but also excellent communication skills. Striking a balance between the administrative, design and construction teams relies entirely on communication and understanding. Different projects present different challenges, whether they relate to location, project budgets, or developer requirements. There are a hundred ways to solve a single problem, and it is the consultant’s role to identify the most appropriate point of intervention. To pinpoint this optimal point, one must view the project from a macro perspective at the beginning and then scrutinise the details surrounding the issue. In many cases, perfection is not an option; however, resolving issues in a pragmatic and precise manner is a significant skill.

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.

‘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.