What steps can be taken to reduce the problem of smog in urban areas?

People living in high-density cities endure from exposure to poor air quality and impacts on brusk and long-term human health continues to be a major business concern. Even so, Hong Kong is making gradual progress towards improving its air quality and people'south health through diverse policies, cantankerous-border initiatives and applied science innovations. The retrofit of existing buildings volition too contribute to indoor and outdoor air quality improvements in the long term.

Hong Kong faces two primary air pollution problems. The first is local street level pollution and the 2nd is regional smog. Commercial vehicles are the main source of street level pollution while smog is acquired by a combination of pollutants from motor vehicles, marine vessels, industry and ability plants in both Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. Hong Kong has implemented a number of measures to tackle these sources under its clean air plan. They include:

Vehicle emission control measures

• An incentive-come-regulatory programme phasing out 80,000 diesel commercial vehicles and adoption of tighter vehicle emission standards amongst other measures
• A Pilot Dark-green Send Fund to subsidize the testing of green innovative technologies relevant to the public transport sector and goods vehicles

Measures to reduce emissions from vessels

• Working jointly with the Mainland to implement marine emission command for the domestic emission control area (DECA) forth the Mainland'south littoral waters
• Mandating vessels to switch to using compliant fuel while sailing or berthing

Reducing emissions from industrial sources and power plants

• Requiring all commercial and industrial processes to utilise ultra-low sulphur diesel
• Retrofitting and controlling emissions from existing power plants with the shift away from coal and requiring new power plants to use cleaner fuel such equally natural gas
• Incentivizing the 2 chief local power companies to promote the development of renewable free energy for generating electricity

Tackling regional air pollution trouble

• Hong Kong and Guangdong governments working jointly to reduce full emissions and improve air quality for the whole region—include retrofitting power plants, phasing out highly polluting industrial plants and introducing cleaner motor vehicles and fuels

According to air quality monitoring results from the PRD Regional Air Quality Monitoring Network, the average annual concentrations of sulphur dioxide (Then₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and respirable suspended particulates (RSP) in the PRD Region decreased by 81%, 28% and 36% respectively in 2018 compared to 2006 figures when the Network started to operate. While there is still some fashion to go to meet air quality goals as set past the Earth Health System, concentrations of all pollutants in Hong Kong, with the exception of ozone, have decreased in recent years.

Figure one: Level of air pollutants in Hong Kong decreasing but with ozone at highest in the past 4 years
https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3046912/hong-kongs-ozone-pollution-levels-nearly-doubled

The HKSAR regime volition introduce further measures to reduce air pollutant emissions including electric ferries, electric public light buses, franchised bus low emission zones and installation of electrical vehicle charging-enabling infrastructure.

Using technology to reduce personal exposure and wellness adventure from outdoor air pollution

Equally of import to improving air quality is to empower deportment from citizens to meliorate their health. A new app was launched in June 2019 that aims to help users reduce their exposure to outdoor air pollution. Developed past the Institute for the Surroundings at the Hong Kong University of Science and Applied science (HKUST), PRAISE-HK (Personalized Real-time Air-quality Computer science Arrangement for Exposure–Hong Kong) uses the Air Quality Health Alphabetize (AQHI) adult by the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department to study current air quality and forecast air quality for the next 48 hours based on weather condition and pollution data modeling.

Figure two: The PRAISE-HK App interface

Air quality tin can vary widely from one street to another in dumbo urban cities like Hong Kong due to differences in traffic and ventilation conditions. PRAISE-HK allows users access to real-fourth dimension fine calibration street-to-street variations in air quality information (downwardly to 2-xx meters), and health adventure information, then the user may make more informed decisions concerning his/her daily outdoor activities. In 2020, the app will integrate personal exposure tracking from outdoor to indoor environments and users will receive personal health recommendations based on their visited locations and health data.

To notice more data on PRAISE-HK, click here

Retrofitting to Improve Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality in Commercial Buildings

Electricity generation is a major source of air pollution in Hong Kong and buildings eat xc% of the electricity generated. There is huge potential to retrofit some 42,000+ existing buildings to reduce free energy consumption whilst providing a salubrious indoor environs for occupants.

A recent study undertaken by the Constitute for the Surroundings at HKUST examined the energy consumption and indoor environment in a existent-case commercial part building with a retrofitted heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. Retrofitted measures included a sensor-based building direction arrangement, dehumidification of outdoor air, and a ii-stage particle filtration system. Free energy data was collected before and afterwards the retrofit, field measurements were conducted in winter and summertime to evaluate the thermal comfort and indoor exposure to air pollutants in the retrofitted area, and an experiment was designed to assess the benefits of upgraded filters on exposure to ambient particles during summer.

Key results of the study were:

• The retrofitted HVAC system reduced energy utilisation past l% while maintaining an acceptable indoor thermal surroundings
• For majority of the time, indoor particle levels complied with World Health System guidelines
• The upgraded filtration system with a pleated filter reduced outdoor PM ingress by 30%-60% more than than the aluminium filter used prior the retrofit
• Fine particles level was establish to be reduced by 70% at the frazzle location which flowed through the retrofitted HVAC system and was expelled to the outdoors leading to improvements to outdoor air quality

The study demonstrated co-benefits of energy savings, ameliorate indoor air quality, maintaining occupants' thermal condolement and enhancing productivity. The retrofit of more existing buildings in Hong Kong can collectively serve equally a purification organisation to improve ambient air quality and generate wider health benefits for the community.

To discover more information on the study, click here

Ir Dr Cary Chan, JP is the Executive Managing director of the Hong Kong Dark-green Building Council
Dr Margaret Kam is Manager – Sustainable Built Environs at the Hong Kong Green Building Council

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Source: https://www.worldgbc.org/news-media/improving-air-quality-high-density-cities

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