Prof. Dan Tsang and PhD Student Win Bronze Award at Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (HKGIA) 2023
Prof. Dan Tsang and his PhD student, Yuying Zhang, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering have won the Bronze Award (Second Runner-Up) at the Hong Kong Green Innovations Awards (HKGIA) 2023 with the project “Biochar thermal insulating plaster: a sustainable building solution”. The 2023 HKGIA had 78 entries (five times that of 2011 HKGIA when the awards were first launched), thus not only illustrating how far the Hong Kong green industry has come, but also underscoring how fierce the competition in the prestigious HKGIA has become. Indeed, to rank within the Top Three out of dozens of candidate projects is a testament to the exceptional innovation and ingenuity of Prof. Tsang’s project, as well as their team’s dedication to the advancement of green technology.
The project “Biochar thermal insulating plaster” adopts a groundbreaking approach to integrating carbon-negative biochar derived from local biomass waste into green thermal insulating plaster. This innovative solution not only enhances the thermal insulation properties of construction materials, but also significantly reduces their carbon footprints, offering a scalable solution for urban carbon dioxide removal and sustainable building practices. The project has been implemented through CharCOOL Ltd., a startup founded by Prof. Tsang.
The HKGIA is part of the Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE), which, organized by the Environmental Campaign Committee, Environment and Ecology Bureau, as well as nine other organizations, is one of Hong Kong’s preeminent platforms for recognizing innovations that contribute to environmental sustainability. Dubbed the city’s “Green Oscars”, the HKAEE honors exemplary initiatives that drive green innovation and environmental protection. As such, Prof. Tsang’s award-winning project epitomizes the significant role that HKUST researchers play every day in pioneering green technologies and fostering impactful collaborations, exemplifying HKUST’s mission to translate cutting-edge research into practical solutions that address global sustainability challenges.
