The Blue Sky Project aims to reduce energy usage and enhance indoor air quality (IAQ) in the NGO sector, as well as facilitate behavioural change among this target population through the transparent availability of energy data and user-centric engagement. The project partners with 4 non-governmental organizations, including Hong Kong Christian Service, Hong Kong Playground Association, Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), and Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council. ZeShan Foundation and Lee Hysan Foundation are the strategic partners and sponsors of the project, which has the full support of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.
Service Scope
- 51 service locations with different facilities such as offices, campsites, and stadiums, which collectively provide diverse services ranging from youth service, education, social service, elderly care, rehabilitation, etc.
- 1,500+ staff engagement
- 290+ smart energy meters and 100+ IAQ sensors installation
- Secure log-in account for web dashboard and mobile app
- Data granularity of each centre, separated into air conditioning, light, and socket load
- Notification and alerts which prompt energy and IAQ abnormality investigation
- Weekly consumption report for energy and IAQ review
- Energy usage comparison against other locations and benchmarks
Blue Sky SAVE Model
In order to make energy saving and IAQ enhancement transparent and actionable, the Blue Sky SAVE Model is applied:
Signal – Smart sensors collects data and processes in server
Action – Experimental energy saving actions are encouraged by centre managers and Blue Sky engagement programs
Verification & Reward – Weekly summaries are analysed by Blue Sky AI and emailed to centres
Evaluation – Quarterly evaluation on engagement level
Digital Engagement
Users receive weekly summary emails of their energy and IAQ performance, accompanied by notifications and recommended actions to enhance their performance. The Blue Sky AI model determines a daily energy budget, which is informed by past energy usage patterns and real-time environmental factors. Paired with real-time analytics, the AI model triggers a notification to users when their actual energy usage is higher than that which was budgeted. In another element of performance feedback, users are also provided with visualizations of their energy usage and IAQ compared to external benchmarks, along with targeted areas of improvement and action tips to reach these goals.
Offline Engagement
Staff members at each service location can volunteer to be Blue Sky Ambassadors, and would receive in-depth training and attend workshops to establish a deep understanding of the energy usage and IAQ patterns of their premises. With this foundation of knowledge, Ambassadors are encouraged to derive action plans to facilitate behavioural change around energy usage. To aid this effort, collateral materials such as reusable cutlery, posters, and upcycled gadget stands are made available at all service locations to nudge users towards sustainable choices and energy conservation in their daily operations.
Energy visits are regularly carried out by Blue Sky energy experts at every service location to investigate the sites’ energy usage and IAQ patterns. In collaboration with Blue Sky Ambassadors, this initiative can facilitate the discussion and discovery of creative and user-centric ways to reduce energy usage and improve indoor air quality across the NGO sector.