Environmental protection – a key pillar in CLP’s brand identity

Many firms talk about protecting the environment. However CLP has actually embedded the idea into its DNA.

Environmental protection is one of the four key pillars supporting the organisation’s new “Energy for life” brand theme. Alongside other important characteristics such as customer excellence, community commitment and power expertise, minimizing the impact of its operations on the environment is a major priority for CLP.

Environmental performance and initiatives

“We value environmental protection and we are firmly committed to sustainability from the Board Room downwards." says CLP Power Managing Director, Mr. Richard Lancaster.

For example, in 1996 CLP became the first electricity supplier in Hong Kong to use natural gas to generate electricity.

Natural gas is a clean-burning fuel that produces much lower levels of emissions than most of the other fossils fuels. Since 1996, CLP has increased its use as a clean energy alternative and improve Hong Kong’s environment.

The Emissions Control Project at the coal-fired Castle Peak Power Station completed last year (2011) also further improves CLP’s already highstandard environmental performance.

"Combining reduction initiatives and shifting to cleaner sources of energy, in the past two decades we have reduced the emissions generated by our power plants by 82% at a time when demand for electricity rose by 80%,” says Mr Lancaster.

Environmental protection begins at home

While the company has done much to reduce the environmental impact of its own operations, CLP recognised long ago that environmental protection begins at home with customers.

CLP has launched a variety of initiatives including the recent “Save Now For A Better Future” energy saving competition and the advanced Eco Optimizer online energy assessment tool. Households taking part in the competition can use the online tool to understand their consumption habits and get tips that help them to save energy.

“We actually launched Eco Optimizer before the competition, with the idea of helping two million residential customers to save energy. Since its launch in 2011, it has been embraced by more than 26,000 residential customers,” said Mr Lancaster.

Supporting the business sector to save energy

Hong Kong’s commercial sector is also a major energy consumer, and the local economy depends on the steady and reliable power that CLP provides. That is why CLP is energetically encouraging its business customers to manage their energy appetites carefully and, where possible, to reduce how much they use.

According to Mr Lancaster, the GREEN PLUS Energy Billboard is a case in point.

“The GREEN PLUS Energy Billboard is a benchmarking tool for business customers. The ultimate aim is to make it easier for customers from businesses, big and small, to compare their average monthly energy performance against their sister offices or peer industry as a whole, hence help them manage their electricity consumption and save operation cost,” he says.

All customers have to do is input their premises’ floor area and energy usage information via their PC or laptop. They will receive an insightful quarterly report which offers a detailed overview of their energy usage levels. More importantly, they can see where they can cut consumption and make significant savings.

The efforts are certainly gaining momentum. Some 2,700 companies across 14 different industry groups, are already taking advantage of CLP energy saving initiatives.

The efficiency initiatives don't stop there. More than 1,000 organisations are participating in CLP’s GREEN PLUS Programme – a collaborative platform that helps business customers, non-profit organisations, schools and contractors to go green.

Something for everyone

Energy efficiency is not only for businesses interested in saving money, or domestic customers keen on cutting power bills. It's a must for everyone! That is why CLP is now developing a solution that will meet the needs of these camps.

The Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) which is designed to provide customers with timely energy consumption information using smart meters and related technology.

AMI can send signals to customers if their energy usage approaches selected consumption levels. Detailed consumption data will be made available to customers via various channels such as a dedicated web portal and mobile apps for smart phones.

“This is a key initiative that could help more people make better informed decisions on their electricity consumption and achieve a greener lifestyle. We plan to roll out a pilot scheme during the first half of 2013,” Mr Lancaster reveals.

Young at heart

Protecting the environment is the key for a bright future. So, CLP is also spreading the green message to the children and aiming to cultivate a new green generation.

That’s where the Electric Green Studio and Junior Green Engineer programme come in.

The Electric Green Studio is a 10-ton electric truck that produces zero roadside emissions with the aim of encouraging children to adopt green measures in their daily lives through interactive activities, including a 3D movie entitled "Earth Hero".

The Junior Green Engineer Programme is a more academic initiative. The first of its kind in Hong Kong, it brings together engineering, scientific and green education themes under the guidance of electricity experts to nurture a new generation of green pioneers.

Facing the future with confidence

Today CLP is Hong Kong's biggest power company. The organisation continues to uphold the values of caring for the environment, people and community.

“The ‘Energy for life’ brand theme provides a clear, credible and comprehensive structure within which CLP can deliver on our promises, including one of the most challenging and important – minimizing the environmental impact of energy generation and delivery,” says Mr Lancaster.

FAST FACTS

• CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (“CLP Power”) is the Hong Kong utility subsidiary wholly owned by CLP Holdings Limited, a company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and one of the largest investor-owned power businesses in Asia. CLP Power operates a vertically integrated electricity supply business in Hong Kong, and provides a highly reliable supply of electricity and excellent customer services to 5.8 million people in its supply area

• Today CLP Power is Hong Kong’s biggest power company, with almost 4,000 staff catering to the energy needs of more than 80 per cent of the population.