Taikoo Hui, Guangzhou (Tower 2) – HSBC Office Awarded Double LEED Zero Certifications

The tower becomes the largest mixed-use office project awarded globally, as 
Swire Properties and HSBC collaborate to take sustainability to the next level

Swire Properties announced today that Taikoo Hui, Guangzhou (Tower 2) – HSBC Office, occupied in its entirety by HSBC, has received another two awards for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) which promotes sustainability in building design, construction and operation.

Achieving both LEED Zero Carbon and LEED Zero Energy certifications, Taikoo Hui, Guangzhou (Tower 2) – HSBC Office is the second and the largest mixed-use office project* globally, and the first mixed-use office building project in the Chinese Mainland, to be awarded both certifications. To attain LEED Zero Carbon, Taikoo Hui, Guangzhou (Tower 2) – HSBC Office achieved net zero carbon emissions from energy consumption and occupant transportation, thanks to a reduction in carbon emissions and carbon offsets over the last 12 months. This achievement is based on LEED O+M Platinum certification, which represents a continuous reduction in energy consumption and convenient access to public transport. Meanwhile, LEED Zero Energy recognises that the building has achieved an energy use balance of zero.

Don Taylor, Director, Office at Swire Properties, said, “While we are advancing towards achieving our ambitious vision to become the leading sustainable development performer in our industry globally by 2030, we have been actively collaborating with our partners, including office tenants, to improve the sustainability performance of all our buildings at all levels. We are pleased to have worked with HSBC over several years to achieve these impressive results.  The two LEED certifications reflect our continued efforts to collaborate with like-minded tenants to achieve common sustainable development goals, accelerating behavioural change that will also help us achieve our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.” 

David Grimme, Chief Operating Officer, Asia-Pacific, HSBC, said, “Our ambition to driving net zero in our operations by 2030 is clear. We are excited that Taikoo Hui, Guangzhou (Tower 2) – HSBC Office has received these two prestigious certifications as it reinforces our commitment to play our part in the transition to a more sustainable future and is a solid step in achieving net zero in our operations. We look forward to continuing working with different stakeholders to explore more sustainability initiatives as we progress towards our goals.”

Andy To, Managing Director of USGBC North Asia, said, “Our longstanding partnership with Swire Properties and HSBC exemplifies our shared commitment to sustainability and the green movement. Achieving dual LEED Zero status of Taikoo Hui, Guangzhou (Tower 2) – HSBC Office marks a significant milestone for China's real estate market, paving a credible and attainable path towards a carbon-neutral future.”

* Largest in terms of gross floor area of the office building

Long-term Collaborative Efforts

Swire Properties’ sustainability efforts have received valuable support from the Company’s partners and customers, notably HSBC as the single tenant of Tower 2 at Taikoo Hui, Guangzhou. Sharing the same commitment to sustainability, HSBC was the first tenant to sign the Green Pledge in 2015 to identify energy-saving opportunities and to implement operational measures aimed at reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. The partnership was further strengthened in 2022 when HSBC joined Swire Properties’ proprietary Green Performance Pledge (GPP) initiative that supports office tenants in improving their overall sustainable development performance, from fit-out to the operational stage.

The entire Taikoo Hui, Guangzhou portfolio reached a significant sustainability milestone in 2021 by achieving 100% usage of renewable energy, while HSBC has received a renewable energy certification for Tower 2. In addition, HSBC has participated in the Green Kitchen Initiative, launched by Swire Properties in 2017 as a platform to help F&B tenants to optimise their environmental performance, gaining recognition with the Two-Leaf award for the staff canteen.