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  • Environmental Measures
  • Enhancing The Environmental Awareness Of Our Employees

Environmental Measures

ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES

The Group actively takes responsibility for environmental protection and strives to minimise the impact of business operations on the environment through energy-saving and emission reduction practices as well as raising the environmental awareness of our employees.

Air Pollutant Emissions And Management

The Group's primary air pollutant emissions come from the use of boilers in the operating management business and the use of automobiles in subsidiaries of various businesses. Huanggu Thermoelectricity strictly complies with the requirements of the 14th Five-Year Plan for Urban Residential Heating Supply of Shenyang and has completed ultra-low emissions retrofits. Our measures include:

  • In view of the emissions of official vehicles, the Group continues to strengthen the promotion of "green travel", which is committed to raising employees' awareness of environmental protection and encouraging them to use public transportation for their travel, to reduce the emissions generated from the use of private vehicles.
  • Control air pollutants from the source of construction or production, such as the installation of particulate reduction equipment, the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel, and the installation of air pollution control equipment.
  • Prioritise local suppliers and include reasonable procurement distances (no more than 800 km) as one of the green supplier selection criteria to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions generated by the supply chain during transportation.
  • Continuously focusing on the ultra-low emission retrofit work to maintain the emission level of air pollutants from all boilers at a level far below the ultra-low emission limits.

Waste And Raw Material Management

The Group's non-hazardous waste mainly includes construction waste from facade contracting engineering business, fly ash, slag, and desulphurised gypsum from Huanggu Thermoelectricity under the investing and operating business and other waste from the production process, as well as general office and domestic waste. The hazardous waste mainly includes electronic products, waste lamps, waste batteries, waste cartridges, used oil from the manufacturing and office processes, waste vanadium-titanium-based catalysts produced by the flue gas denitrification system and chemical waste generated from facade contracting engineering projects. The Group strictly manages waste, and subsidiaries have established policies tailored to their specific business characteristics to minimise the adverse environmental impact of their operations.

To reduce the emission of non-hazardous waste, the Group has implemented various measures, including reducing paper consumption, promoting the online document management, e-stamping and electronic file library system, and encouraging staff to sort and recycle.

  • Hazardous waste: The Group is fully aware of the potential impact that hazardous waste generated in the course of business operations may have on the environment, and has therefore established a comprehensive hazardous waste management system and operational guidelines. The Group's subsidiaries have set up clear management policies and measures, including the management of hazardous waste holding areas, emergency preparedness and regular emergency drills, to strengthen employees' awareness of environmental protection and their ability to respond to emergencies. All hazardous waste must be recycled and treated by qualified and professional third-party vendors to ensure that it is handled in a safe and proper manner and complies with relevant environmental protection regulations and standards.
  • Non-hazardous waste: The Group's management of non-hazardous waste begins at the procurement stage, where we strive to select business materials or services with environmental certifications. For industrial waste such as fly ash and furnace slag generated during Huanggu Thermoelectricity's production processes, we implement closed-loop management to ensure their proper handling. Additionally, we entrust qualified third parties with the unified treatment and resource utilisation of solid waste. Where conditions permit, we also explore innovative renovation for workshop waste to streamline waste management processes.
Through these steps, the Group has successfully obtained the Wastewi$e Certificate (Good Level) certified by the Hong Kong Green Organization.

Wastewater Discharge And Management

The Group's major wastewater includes the flue gas desulphurisation wastewater and domestic sewage from the investing and operating management business. In addition to strictly comply with laws and regulations such as "Integrated Wastewater Discharge Standard", the Group also closely monitors sewage discharge through the following measures:

  • Upgrade the pollution discharge systems of desulphurisation wastewater treatment equipment and plan the construction and maintenance of related desulphurisation wastewater treatment systems to improve treatment efficiency.
  • Install production water reuse equipment and establish a comprehensive wastewater quality monitoring system to ensure that treated water meets discharge standards.
  • Commission professional third-party water quality testing on a monthly basis to further ensure compliance with wastewater discharge standards.

Water Efficiency

Water resource management is a priority for the Group. We not only advance the standardised management of water usage but also optimise equipment through technological innovation to improve circulating water utilisation rates.

At operating level, Huanggu Thermoelectricity – the Group's primary water-consuming subsidiary – has implemented multiple water conservation measures with significant results. The facility has completed its Phase One of its secondary reclaimed water renovation project within the plant and implemented comprehensive upgrades to its steam-based heating system during the 2024 heating season, achieving the transition to recirculated water heating supply. Huanggu Thermoelectricity's steam-water loss rate during heating season now meets industry benchmark standards.

At corporate level, the Group mandates all subsidiaries to rigorously enhance water management efficiency. This includes stringent monitoring of consumption data and preventing unaccounted water losses to eliminate wastage at source.

Efficient Use Of Energy

The Group regards energy management as a core strategy for enhancing operational efficiency and reducing climate impact. Our Environmental Policy explicitly mandates that subsidiaries regularly review and monitor energy consumption, set specific targets, and integrate energy-saving and emission-reduction measures into daily operations.

At operating level, we are committed to employing cutting-edge technologies, high-efficiency equipment, and precision systems to achieve energy benefits, while continuously enhancing energy utilisation efficiency through comprehensive building practices.

Zero-Energy Building in Far East (Zhuhai)

  • Far East (Zhuhai) has successfully transformed a multi-functional building into a zero-energy building through a series of innovative active and passive technologies, significantly enhancing its green attributes and environmental quality. The building integrates high-efficiency facades, Building-integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), Building Applied Photovoltaic (BAPV), high-efficiency mechanical and electrical systems, and an intelligent platform to meet the multifunctional needs of employee accommodation, dining, and office work, achieving self-sufficient energy supply.
  • In terms of active energy-saving technologies, the building is equipped with customised Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems according to the needs of different functional areas. High-efficiency multi-split air conditioning systems are used in the canteen and office areas, while new air-integrated machines are selected for the dormitory area, ensuring both environmental comfort and energy-saving effects. The replacement of all lighting fixtures with LED lamps has reduced the lighting power density by over 30%, and it is expected to generate 249,000 kWh of clean energy annually.
  • In terms of passive energy-saving techniques, the building's exterior has undergone a complete renovation and upgrade. The combination of optimised structural design and innovative technologies effectively addresses the seasonal demand for indoor air quality. Meanwhile, the extensive use of high-performance materials significantly enhances overall energy efficiency, further embodying the concept of environmental protection.

Across the value chain, we persistently advance energy efficiency optimisation throughout our business upstream and downstream, actively promoting the adoption of renewable energy products.

We continue to explore innovative technologies for energy conservation and environmental protection in heating systems. We have implemented a retrofit of heating unit circulating water systems, which is expected to save 12,000 tons of standard coal, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 31,000 tons, sulfur dioxide emissions by 102 tons, and nitrogen oxide emissions by 89 tons each year. At the same time, we are advancing a lithium bromide circulating water waste heat recovery project, projected to save the equivalent of 6,240 tons of standard coal and 65,000 tons of water annually, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 16,000 tons, sulfur dioxide emissions by 53 tons, and nitrogen oxide emissions by 46 tons.

In addition, in 2024 we carried out ultra-low emission retrofits of boilers for dust removal, desulfurization, and denitrification, further optimizing the energy structure, reducing air pollutant emissions, and contributing to the achievement of low-carbon and environmentally sustainable development goals.

Boiler Combustion System Optimisation Energy-Efficient Transformer And Converter Upgrade Implementation Of Retrofitting Project Of Boiler ACS System Plan Of Launching Intelligent Regulation And Control Of Heat Pipe Network, Effectively Regulating The Heating Temperature Of Users Innovative Technologies For Energy-Efficient And Environmentally Friendly Heating Systems Retrofitting Project Of Low-Temperature Heating Grids
In 2024, Huanggu Thermoelectricity continued to focus on waste heat recovery from its heating units by upgrading two units to circulating water heating systems. It is estimated that each heating season will recover 300,000 GJ of residual heat, saving approximately 12,000 tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 31,000 tons. In 2023, 13 high energy-consuming transformers and 21 convertors were replaced, which is estimated to save 194,100 kWh and 366,800 kWh of electricity per year respectively. In 2022, after the completion of the ACS system retrofitting of boilers 6 and 7 in the factory, 4% of coal and 2% of the electricity were saved. On average, 942 tonnes of standard coal can be saved per one heating season. After a trial lasting almost two months in 2021, the network achieved prominent results in saving energy, reducing consumption, and enhancing heat supply quality. In 2022, the technical transformation of hydraulic balance of secondary network covered an area of 1.6 million square meters, thus realizing energy saving and consumption reduction through raising the heat supply efficiency of heat exchange stations and cutting heating consumption and electricity consumption by 2-4.5% and 3-10% respectively. In 2023, 1.5 million square meters of secondary network were further upgraded. In 2014, Huanggu Thermoelectricity implemented a contract energy management model to upgrade the unit’s circulating water system by installing two lithium bromide absorption heat pump units, each with a heating capacity of 19.15 MW. The system recovers waste heat from the unit’s circulating water, capturing an average of 160,000 GJ of residual heat per heating season, with an estimated savings of approximately 6,240 tons of standard coal. As early as 1997, Huanggu Thermoelectricity took the lead in retrofitting the water circulation heating, which could offer water circulation heating in winter, and has achieved a low-temperature network heating supply of 302,300 GJ in 2022. On average, 300,000 GJ of residual heat are recovered per heating season, with an estimated average annual saving of 12,000 tonnes of standard coal.

To further enhance energy efficiency, Huanggu Thermoelectricity continuously refines its Compendium of Management Systems and has established an Energy Conservation and Consumption Reduction Assessment Mechanism based on the actual conditions of its heating department. The mechanism incorporates key performance indicators such as heat, electricity and water consumption during the heating seasons into the assessment mechanism so as to achieve more profound energy conservation and emission reduction.

Enhancing The Environmental Awareness Of Our Employees

Green Office Practices

The Group's business philosophy of "Practicing diligence and thrift, Operating the enterprise frugally" is embedded in the corporate culture and applying it to the design and construction of the office environment. The Group acknowledges the importance of green office practices for sustainable development and has continually invested in creating a comfortable, low-carbon, and environmental-friendly working environment.

To achieve this goal, the Group promotes a green and low-carbon lifestyle among its staff through the "Green Office Environmental Proposal" and "Green Office Guidelines". The Group also monitors energy and resource usage in the office area and implements measures such as the "lights out when people leave" principle and centralised control of power supply to maximise resource and energy efficiency.

The Group was awarded the "Green Office" and "Eco-Healthy Workplace" labels from the World Green Organization for consecutive years

Environmental Protection Activities

Green Office Practices

Save environment posters and environmental conservation signs are posted throughout the office to promote green office practices

Employee Trainings

The Group advocates instilling the concept of green office practices from the onboarding of new employees. During induction training, we emphasize the importance of creating a sustainable working environment and require employees to adopt paperless working habits in their daily work to minimise waste generation.

Environmental Protection Activity

China Overseas Supervision "Earth Hour" Event
China Overseas Supervision proactively responded to the call for environmental protection and successfully hosted the "Earth Hour" online charity step donation event. This initiative not only encouraged employees to switch off non-essential lights during the specified time but also motivated them to connect with nature by participating in charitable initiatives through walking. Each step taken by the employees was converted into charity funds provided by China Overseas Supervision, ultimately contributing to the "Blue Defenders" environmental project. Through this activity, the concept of low-carbon environmental protection has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the employees, demonstrating our determination to contribute to the ecological environment and collectively protect our precious natural assets.

"Green Walks"

The Group combines environmental education with practical experiences in nature. Activity locations are carefully selected for their beautiful natural landscapes, allowing employees to appreciate the beauty of nature while deeply understanding the urgency of ecological protection.

"Barter for Green" Environmental Conservation Recycling Campaign

To actively promote the environmental conservation concepts of waste recycling and reuse, and to rigorously reduce resource waste, the Group has arranged for professional third-party recyclers to visit our office locations, launched the "Barter for Green" environmental conservation recycling Campaign aimed at enhancing employees' participation in environmental initiatives.