News

BEEE’s PhD Student Won the Best Paper Award in Student Category at the NCRAC 2022 Conference

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce that our PhD students, Dharmasastha Kumar won the best paper award in Student Category at the NCRAC 2022 for a paper entitled “Influence of water flow path on thermal comfort of radiant cooling system - An experimental study”.   NCRAC 2022 Conference 7th National and 1st International Conference on Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (NCRAC-2022) is organised by the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, India. The conference was held from 24 to 26th February 2022. The theme of the conference was Energy Efficient and Environment-Friendly HVAC&R Systems. It was organised in association with Indian Society of Heating Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ISHRAE) Guwahati Sub-Chapter and it is supported by ISHRAE and American Society of Heating and Refrigeration Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).   Paper Title: Influence of Water Flow Path on Thermal Comfort of Radiant Ceiling Cooling System - An Experimental Study   Abstract: Construction and operation in the building sector account for more than 1/5th of global energy consumption. Moving on to an energy-efficient cooling technology and eco-friendly building material can lead to energy saving and reduction in associated CO2 emissions. In the present study, an energy-efficient thermally activated building system (TABS) is integrated with eco-friendly building material, namely, glass fibre reinforced gypsum (GFRG). The proposed hybrid system is termed as thermally activated glass fibre reinforced gypsum (TAGFRG) system. This system is not only energy-efficient and eco-friendly but also provides better thermal comfort. An experimental room is constructed with the TAGFRG roof within the Indian Institute of Technology Madras campus, Chennai, i.e., in a tropical warm and humid climate zone. The TAGFRG roof has reinforcement in every third cavity while the cooling pipes are embedded in the other two with air gap and partial reinforcement. The TAGFRG roof has four parallel loops of cooling pipelines, and each loop consists of one reinforcement zone (RZ) and two air gap zones (AZ1 and AZ2) in series. According to the water flow path in a single loop, various combinations of the flow path, i.e., RZàAZ1àAZ2, AZ1àRZàAZ2 and AZ1àAZ2àRZ, have been analyzed. The influence of the water flow path on thermal comfort is insignificant. The average operative temperature for all the cases investigated varies between 28.1 and 29.2°C. The operative temperature is always within the 90% thermal comfort band.    Experiment Setup:   The Department would like to congratulate Mr. Dharmasastha Kumar on the excellent achievement. We wish him continued success.  

BEEE’s Project Group Awarded in the President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Knowledge Transfer 2021

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce that our project group, led by our Chair Professor, Prof. Wang Shengwei as the Project Coordinator and with Prof. Xiao Fu, Dr Li Hangxin, Dr Shan Kui, the Building Energy and Automation Research Laboratory (BEAR) and the Research and Institute for Smart Energy (RISE), was awarded the Team Award in Knowledge Transfer: Industry in the President’s Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Knowledge Transfer 2021 for a project entitled “Transfer and implementation of smart technologies for building life-cycle optimization and diagnosis”. BEAR led by Prof. Wang has developed a serial of smart technologies for saving energy in new and existing buildings. These technologies can be grouped into three categories as follows. Building Energy Diagnosis Tools including: Building level energy performance quick evaluation and diagnostic tool, Detailed evaluation and diagnostic tool for A/C and BA systems, etc.; Virtual Test Platforms including: Building system online performance simulation test platform (digital twin), BA control and diagnosis strategy online test platform, etc.; Optimization Tools including: Building HVAC system probabilistic design optimization tool, Package of online smart energy efficient control and diagnosis strategies, etc. These technologies are implemented in many buildings and development projects, such as various commercial buildings, hotels and industrial buildings, by means of contract research and consultancy services of over 20 projects with total amount over HKD 13M in the period between 2012 and 2018. Besides achieving energy saving for the industrial partners (collective annual energy saving of over 2 M kWh), these application projects also provide the team strong support and latest information on the development needs for the further research and development of the novel methodologies and technologies for smart, energy efficient and energy flexible buildings and districts towards carbon neutrality. The Award recognized our researchers’ outstanding contributions in knowledge transfer and significant impacts on the industry. The Department would like to congratulate the team on the excellent achievement. We wish them continued success.

Result Announcement - Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU BEEE 2022

The Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU Department aims to give public recognition to outstanding graduates of the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) for their professional achievements and significant contributions to the community and their alma mater. The 1st round selection of Outstanding Alumni Award of BEEE (formerly referred to as the Department of Building Services Engineering) was organized in 2010, and now is the 7th round selection of the Award. The two awardees are listed as follows: Outstanding Alumni Award in Professional Achievement of PolyU BEEE 2022 Ir YEE Kwong Fai Safety Auditors Training Scheme (Year of Award: 1998) BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering (Year of Award: 1997) Higher Certificate in Electrical Installation and Building Services Engineering (Year of Award: 1992) Head of Technical Department (Senior Manager – Centre Technical Services), The Wharf Group – Harbour City / Times Square Ir YEE Kwong Fai has been accumulating 40 years of work experience in the field of Building Services Engineering particularly in areas of properties and facilities management, operation and maintenance, energy and safety management, as well as environmental and sustainability development. Ir Yee has taken the leading roles in various listed companies in Hong Kong overseeing the mega size of Grade A Shopping Mall and commercial Office Buildings in Hong Kong. Ir Yee is also active in serving the engineering industry, promoting best practices and sustainability of building services operation and maintenance by taking up various posts in the professional Institutions including Chairman of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers – Building Services Division (2020-2021), Chairman of Energy Institute-HK Branch (2018-2020), President of BSOMES (2008-2010), and serving as Panel Members and Working Group Members nominated by HKSAR Government, e.g. Development Bureau, EMSD, Buildings Department etc. Ir Yee is the current Hon. Secretary of the HKIE-Energy Disciplinary Advisory Panel. Ir Yee also served PolyU-Department of Building Services Engineering as one of the Committee Members of BSE-Departmental Advisory Committee (DAC) and Mentor. He also made donation to support BSE students’ oversea learning activity previously. Ir Yee is the current Professional Assessor of HKIE, Energy Institute Hong Kong (EIHK) and The Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE). Ir Yee is the Registered Professional Engineer (RPE) in Building Services, Electrical, Energy & Fire Disciplines, Chartered Engineer and has held many Fellow Membership of different Professional Institutions such as FHKIE, FCIBSE, FIET, FEI & FCIPHE. Looking back at his time in the PolyU after graduation from Part Time BEng(Hons) in Building Services Engineering in 1997, Ir Yee enjoyed sharing his practical experience and insights with PolyU undergraduate students and offered internship opportunities to PolyU students at his company. Outstanding Young Alumni Award in Entrepreneurial Achievement of PolyU BEEE 2022 Dr. Aotian SONG Ph.D., The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (Year of Award: 2018) CEO of Shenzhen Leadus-tech Co., Ltd Dr. Aotian SONG is one of the founders and CEO of an award-winning and nationally recognized enterprise. Dr Song and his team’s invention (vacuum insulated glazing) has been massively applied in the industry. Also, Dr Song actively participates in charity affairs and continuously supports PolyU by being the sponsor for research projects and providing internship opportunities to PolyU students, etc. The Department is honourable to recognize the winners’ accomplishments in the building services engineering industry and contributions to the community and PolyU with this Award. The Department would like to thank all the Selection Panel members for their excellent volunteer work on the selection process.

BEEE’s Building Environment(BE) Group Awarded $34.6 million by the RGC Theme-based Research Scheme 2021/22

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to report that BE Research Group, led by our Chair Professor, Ir Professor Niu Jianlei as the Project Coordinator and with Prof. Cheuk-ming Mak and Dr Ruoyu You as Co-PI, was awarded $34.6 million by the RGC Theme-based Research Scheme 2021/22 for a project entitled “Healthy and Resilient City with Pervasive LoCHs.” The project aims to create localized outdoor comfort places/hubs (LoCHs) in the urban environment by employing a scientific microclimate design methodology based on advanced modelling and simulation of wind, heat, and moisture in the early stages of building design and planning, with the help of artificial intelligence in optimisation. The project team consists of 10 other researchers from various disciplines of PolyU and other local universities, including Dr Zheng Tan of the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE), Prof. John Shi of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), and Dr Ting-kei Pong of the Department of Applied Mathematics. The research team also includes 10 researchers from 8 overseas universities, and 2 collaborators respectively from the estate developer and software developer. The team looks forward to working with other stakeholders from the relevant government departments and estate development industry to speed up the application of the research results. This is the 2nd project in the department to be supported by the prestigious TRS scheme. The previously awarded project was led by Prof. Asif Usmani, Head of BEEE. The Department would like to congratulate Prof. Niu and his team on the excellent achievement. We wish them continued success. Urban wind and microclimate modelling. Simulation based optimization

BEEE’s Associate Professor Awarded $5.7 Million by the RGC Research Impact Fund Scheme (RIF)

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to report that our Associate Professor, Dr Wei Minchen Tommy was awarded $5.7 million by the RGC Research Impact Fund Scheme. Dr Wei has been awarded $5.7 million by the RGC Research Impact Fund Scheme for a project titled “Deeper understanding of color matching mechanism for developing high-quality lighting and imaging systems”. The project aims to understand how the human eyes and brains work together to perceive the same color appearance produced by stimuli with different spectral compositions, especially those with highly structured spectra. It can help the development of high quality lighting (e.g., LEDs, OLEDs, and laser diodes) and imaging (e.g., displays, cameras, printers) systems. As the project coordinator, Dr Wei will lead a team including color scientists, vision scientists, and neuroscientists from local and overseas universities, world-leading high-tech companies, US national laboratory, and international standardization bodies. The Department would like to congratulate Dr Wei and his team on the excellent achievement. We wish them continued success.

BEEE’s MPhil Student Awarded the PolyU Maker Fund Programme 2021

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to report that our MPhil student, Mr. Wong Ho Yin, was selected to enjoy a 24-month incubation and funding support of HK$600,000 in PolyU Maker Fund Programme 2021. Mr. Wong, as the team leader, joined the 3-day Hardware Bootcamp in Early August, they had great performance in the First Assessment and were shortlisted after the Bootcamp. Afterwards, they went through the “Minimum Viable Product” (MVP) development and market validation training before the Final Assessment in September. Under the supervision of BEEE Assistant Professor, Dr Huang Xinyan, Mr. Wong’s team with the project entitled “Smart Building Emergency System” was selected ultimately to enjoy a 24-month incubation and funding support. The proposed Smart Building Emergency System will apply artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into a smart signage network that can guide residences towards the shortest and safest evacuation paths in a fire event. This system will be a core component of the novel smart firefighting technology developed in PolyU (the SureFire Project). It will be applied to the next generation smart and resilient building that will help Hong Kong achieve the status of the world's leading smart city. PolyU has tailor-made PolyU Maker Fund Programme for Hong Kong young makers, by leveraging its own expertise and resources as well as partners’ network and through the support of the Youth Development Fund (YDF) (Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area) under the administration of Youth Development Commission of Home Affairs Bureau.  The Department would like to congratulate Mr. Wong Ho Yin and his team on the excellent achievement. We wish them continued success.

The HKIE Scholarship 2020/21 - BEEE Awardee

New Chair Professor – Professor Christopher Chao

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. Christopher Chao to the post of Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering in the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering. Prof. Christopher Chao received his BSc(Eng) degree in Mechanical Engineering (First Class) from The University of Hong Kong (HKU) in 1988. He was awarded the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowship for Overseas Studies in 1990 and obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from The University of California, Berkeley, USA, in 1992 and 1994, respectively. Prof. Chao was an Assistant Professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) from 1995-1997. Before returning to PolyU in September of 2021, he was an Assistant Professor (1997-2002), Associate Professor (tenured, 2002-2009), Full Professor (2009-2015) and Chair Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (2015-2018) at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). He was Associate Dean of Engineering (Research and Graduate Studies) (2011-2014) and Head of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at HKUST (2014-2018). He joined HKU to serve as Dean of Engineering and Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering from 2018 to 2021. Prof. Chao was ranked by Clarivate Analytics in the top 1% worldwide by citations in the research field of Engineering in 2021. He has published over 170 archival journal papers. He serves as Editor and is on the editorial boards of several major journals in the field of Energy and Built Environment including Energy and Buildings, Building and Environment, Indoor Air, Building Simulation, Indoor and Built Environment, etc. He is a Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, Hong Kong Institution of Engineers and International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate. He serves in various Government units and core I&T organizations including the New Energy Transport Fund and Gas Safety Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Environment Bureau, the Building Committee of the Housing Authority, the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council, Board of Directors of Cyberport, Board of Directors of the Engineering Forum of HKIE, etc.

Best Paper of CUE2020

The Department of Building Environment and EnergyEngineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to announce that Prof. Yang Hongxing and Dr Cao Sunliang of BEEE and their research students’ paper entitled Peer-to-peer trading optimizations on net-zero energy communities with energy storage of hydrogen and battery vehicles has been awarded as the best paper by CUE2020: Applied Energy Symposium:­ Low carbon cities and urban energy systems. Developing intelligent energy solutions for resilient urban systems is a global and complex challenge which involves interdisciplinary fields. With this as theme of the conference, CUE2020 aimed to provide a premier international forum for all stakeholders including academia, industry and policy decision makers to present and share latest findings in all aspects across this domain, discussing how smart technologies and services can integrate the production and use of energy to support a more sustainable and resilient urban system. CUE2020 was organized by the international journal, Applied Energy and Applied Energy Innovation Institute (AEii), hosted by Sophia University. Due to the COVID-19, the event was held in virtual symposium on Oct 10-17, 2020 for sharing the most recent progress of research RD&Ds in urban energy systems. The Department would like to congratulate Prof. Yang, Dr Cao, Dr Liu and Dr Zhou on the excellent achievement.   

Welcome message from the Head of Department

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) was officially established in December 1981 (formerly referred to as the Department of Building Services Engineering). We have been serving Hong Kong’s building services engineering industry ever since, promoting sustainable, efficient and healthy indoor and urban living environments in one of the world’s greatest cities by providing world class teaching and conducting internationally leading research.  BEEE is one of the constituent departments of the Faculty of Construction and Environment, and offers a full range of taught and research based study programmes leading to awards from Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) to Masters (MSc and MEng) right up to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).   Among many challenges confronting the world, perhaps the most critical is to provide high quality living environments to rapidly urbanising and ageing populations under the creeping threat of a worsening climate and increasing environmental pollution. UN forecasts that the world's population will reach 9.7 billion by 2050. 70% of the people are projected to live in urban areas, placing enormous strain on cities and the environment. To deal effectively with these challenges, future building engineers will need to be data savvy and work in interdisciplinary teams to deliver optimal solutions enabling smart urban environments incorporating elements such as vertical farms; renewables driven integrated buildings and transport systems; citywide recycling and so on for a sustainable planet and a smart and resilient built environment. In order to promote this vision, we have designed state of the art study programmes providing the best possible training to our students in designing high performance buildings and building systems through judicious exploitation of the sciences and contemporary technologies such as sensor and comms networks, AI and IoT techniques, data science and programming, BIM and digital twin systems etc. This is consistent with our mission, stated as, to imagine, engineer and promote sustainable, salutogenic and safe environments for human habitation.   BEEE full-time academic and teaching staff members engage in a wide range of research activities organized in the following three research themes: Building Energy: Energy issues in buildings are addressed in the context of both demand and supply to improve the sustainability of the built environment. Building Environment: Optimisation of buildings and built environments for thermal comfort, indoor air quality, visual/spatial and vibration/acoustic aspects to improve occupant health and productivity. Building Safety and Resilience: Protection of building occupants from hazards such as fire and lightning to improve safety and resilience of communities, buildings and built environments.   I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in our department and programmes and hope you’ll join us in learning to promote smarter urban environments for a better and more sustainable future for humanity and our planet.   Prof. Asif Usmani Head of Unit Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering