Energy Challenge Week in Hong Kong and Bristol 2025

Date: March 17–23 (Monday to Sunday)

Participants: Communities in Hong Kong and Bristol, UK

Challenge: Switch off unnecessary appliances during the week, aiming to save 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity per day.

The “SEE research project, led by the Department of Geography at Hong Kong Baptist University and the Asian Energy Studies Centre, has been working closely with residents to build low-carbon communities. Last year, we hosted the first “1-hour Energy Challenge” event to encourage participating households to rethink their energy habits and experience the fun of saving electricity.

This year, we have taken the challenge even further by extending it to a full week—and for the first time, residents from Bristol, UK joined Hong Kong households to participate together. Participants’ energy-saving efforts could be converted into “Smart Coins,” and for the first time, these coins could be donated to benefit children in the community! 👶

To help residents better prepare for the challenge, the research team has organized two Energy Dialogue Sessions ahead of the event. We were honored to have Mr. Lam Chiu-ying, renowned meteorologist, environmentalist, and former Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, as our star Energy Coach!

In Hong Kong, the dialogue focused on energy-saving strategies for the humid "spring damp" season, with Mr. Lam sharing dehumidifying tips and exchanging ideas with residents from Sheung Shui and Fairview Park. Meanwhile, the Bristol session discussed broader energy-saving strategies. Thank you to all the residents who joined and helped lay a strong foundation for the Energy Challenge Week!

Click here to revisit the highlights and tips from the Energy Dialogue:

The core message of this campaign is that saving 1 kWh per day is achievable—and when we work together, we can move our communities toward a low-carbon future. Just to remind everyone: 1 kWh is the amount of electricity consumed by a 1-kilowatt (kW) appliance running for 1 hour. For example, using an oven for 30 minutes or operating a fridge for 5 hours would consume approximately 1 kWh.

In Hong Kong, March is known for its humid weather, making it harder for laundry to dry. Many households use dehumidifiers, but these are major energy consumers—a 500W dehumidifier can use 1 kWh in just 2 hours!

Meanwhile, in the UK, although dehumidifiers are less common, clothes dryers are widely used. Ahead of the challenge, the research team shared many practical “Save 1 kWh” tips and alternatives tailored to both Hong Kong and UK households.

The results were inspiring!

• At Fairview Park in Hong Kong, 43% of households collectively reduced 308 kWh.

• In Sheung Shui, 78% of households collectively saved 309 kWh!

These results show that small daily actions have tremendous power. By becoming more aware of our energy consumption patterns and making intentional changes, we can create a big impact together!