The Central Hotel Baoxuan undergoes green renovation with solar glass on the walls, covering an area 80 times larger than traditional ones, "the building itself is a power station."

Hong Kong's established developer, Han Guo Properties (160), has completed a three-year renovation of its Central Hotel, which is the first hotel in Hong Kong to introduce a Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) system. The entire building features vertical solar glass on three sides of its curtain wall, breaking the traditional limitation of only installing solar panels on the rooftop. The project leader described the building as "a power station in itself." Ye Weijun, director and general manager of the hotel group, stated that the apartments are located in Central, with over 90% catering to business travelers, and its low-carbon elements have attracted many large groups to consider it as the preferred choice for employee accommodation. Han Guo Properties' "Central Hotel and Apartments" located in Sheung Wan has officially opened, with the most significant renovation involving the installation of "solar power glass" on the curtain wall. Through the BIPV system, the building's exterior can be transformed into a power generation system connected to the grid. Solar Glass Supplies Electricity for 8 Rooms Year-Round Leung Chung-hin, project manager of the BIPV project at Shun Cheong Electrical Engineering, explained that if the hotel had followed traditional methods, only five solar panels could be installed on the rooftop; however, the new project ultimately installed 947 pieces of solar power glass, with a total installation area of 808 square meters (approximately 8,700 square feet), accounting for 40% of the overall facade, which is 80 times more than traditional installations. The project is expected to generate 24,800 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, equivalent to supplying electricity for eight hotel rooms throughout the year. Various Translucent Materials Allow for Carbon Reduction Without Residents Noticing Leung continued to point out that the solar power glass comes with different levels of translucency and can be combined with various patterns such as wood grain and marble for the exterior walls, allowing for material adjustments based on wall position requirements. "This effectively integrates the building with the system without affecting the experience; residents won't notice it, yet it helps reduce carbon." Located in Sheung Wan, Monthly Rent for Serviced Apartments Starts at 41,000 The Central Hotel is divided into two parts: the hotel and serviced apartments. The hotel has three floors with 44 guest rooms, while the 14 floors of apartments feature a total of 112 suites, with building areas ranging from 551 to 1,575 square feet. The ground floor is occupied by dining establishments. The rental threshold for the apartments is approximately HKD 41,000 per month, while the most luxurious high-floor sea-view suite rents for HKD 88,000 per month, with corresponding discounts for long-term tenants. Large Corporations in Central Prefer to Rent as Employee Accommodation Ye Weijun stated that due to the project's location in Central, the apartments primarily serve employees from companies coming to Hong Kong from abroad. The renovation has enhanced competitiveness, attracting many large multinational corporations. "Many big companies encourage ESG, and as long as it is within budget, they will prioritize choosing it." However, he emphasized that the overall pricing still depends on market levels, and the rent does not intentionally include an ESG premium, nor will the introduction of the BIPV system increase operational costs. Talent Influx Expected to Keep Rents High Han Guo Properties was established in 1965 and has experienced multiple economic cycles. Regarding the current market situation, Ye Weijun believes that the general purchasing power of Hong Kong residents has declined in recent years, making hotel prices fluctuate more like "seafood prices." However, the continuous increase in international students and talent programs means that rental levels for serviced apartments remain high The Jianye Group has multiple listed companies in Hong Kong, including the holding company Jianye Industrial (216), which owns the developer Hanguo Properties, the building contracting service company Jianlian Group (385), and the foundation piling engineering company Jianye Jianrong (1556)