The government will launch a set of guidelines in June or July this year to report on the emissions and removals of greenhouse gases (GHG) from buildings used for commercial, residential or institutional purposes.

The guidelines are being drafted by a task force which comprises experts from the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and Architectural Services Department.

The Advisory Council on the Environment (ACE) has been consulted during the process.

The task force hopes users or managers of the target establishments can measure their GHG emissions through carbon audit, identify areas for improvement and carry out programs to reduce or offset the emissions.

Measuring electricity consumption, which is a major source of GHG emissions, will be part of the guidelines, the task force told the media after meeting the ACE on Friday.

The guidelines will also set out emission factors and other measurements to quantify GHG emissions and removals.

The task force added that the nature of operation matters much to the amount of GHG emissions.

"For instance, emissions of a news agency which operates 24 hours a day will be different from an office that only operates during the day," it said.

Buildings for industrial or other special purposes are omitted owing to the complexities of GHG emissions from these buildings.

Carbon audit will be introduced on a voluntary basis in the initial phase, but the ACE proposed to make it mandatory in mid- to long-term.

Reports drawn up may be disseminated to the public.

The ACE hopes tertiary institutions will be the first to volunteer for carbon audit as they have the expertise to assist the exercise.

To encourage participation, the ACE suggested the task force provide non-material incentive such as giving buildings that carry out carbon audit a special status.

Meanwhile, the government published in the Gazette the Air Pollution Control (Fuel Restriction) (Amendment) Regulations to mandate the use of ultra low sulfur diesel in industrial and commercial processes.

About 2,480 tons of local sulfur dioxide emissions are expected to be reduced annually.

The amended regulations will be tabled in the Legislative Council next Wednesday, and will take effect from October 1 this year if approved.

(HK Edition 05/17/2008 page1)