News

BEEE’s PhD student selected for the FCE Awards for Outstanding PhD Theses 2024/25

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is delighted to announce that Dr Chen Zhe, a PhD student supervised by Prof. Xiao Fu, has been selected as a recipient of the FCE Awards for Outstanding PhD Theses 2024/25.   This award recognizes the exceptional quality of Dr Chen’s PhD thesis and his outstanding performance during the oral defense. Organized by the Faculty of Construction and Environment, the FCE Awards honor the most distinguished doctoral research within the faculty.   In the thesis, Dr Chen addresses the critical challenge of making AI trustworthy for building energy management. By integrating domain knowledge and physical rules into data-driven models, he transforms “black-box” models into interpretable and reliable tools for optimizing and diagnosing air-conditioning systems. The impact of his research has been demonstrated through a year-long, real-world deployment at PolyU's chiller plant, achieving a remarkable improvement in energy efficiency and substantial energy savings.   The Department warmly congratulates Dr Chen on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to his continued success and the positive impact his work will bring to the field.  

New Associate Professor - Prof. Guo Ye

BEEE is delighted to announce the appointment of Prof. Guo Ye as an Associate Professor, effective from 1st August 2025.    GUO Ye received his B.E. and Ph.D. degrees from Tsinghua University. He worked as a Postdoc at Cornell University for more than four years. Before joining PolyU, he was an Associate Professor at Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute since 2021.   Prof. Guo's research is on the building-grid energy ecosystem. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research papers in prestigious journals and conferences on energy systems. From 2019 to 2021, Prof. Guo received the IEEE PES General Meeting Best Paper Award four times in three years in a row, including a "Best-of-the-Best" Paper Award. He holds over a dozen patents and software copyrights, with one patent transferred at 1.89M CNY. He has secured over 20M CNY (21.8M HKD) research funding via competition as the leading PI, including two consecutive NSFC standard grants and over 12M CNY industrial funding from the China Southern Power Grid.   Prof. Guo assumed the co-chair of the IEEE PES Task Force on State Estimation for Integrated Energy Systems and received the 2024 Society-Level Working Group Recognition Award. He serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Trans. on Energy Market, Policy, and Regulations (Outstanding Editor in 2024) and CSEE Journal of Power and Energy Systems (Outstanding Editor in 2020 and 2021). He offered a path design for the electricity price reform toward carbon neutrality and received an official letter of appreciation from the National Development and Reform Commission of China.   Prof. Guo was selected for the National Young Talent Program (Funded with priority) and the Zhujiang Outstanding Young Talent Program of Guangdong Province. He is also a recipient of the May 4th Medal of Shenzhen.  

World Fuel Cell Conference was successfully held on 9-12 July 2025

We are delighted to share with you that the World Fuel Cell Conference 2025 (WFCC 2025) was successfully held on 9-12 July 2025!   This year, Hong Kong which is a cosmopolitan and energetic city, was selected to oragnise the  WFCC 2025! The conference was chaired by Prof. Meng Ni, the Head of Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering and a member of the management committee of Research Institute for Smart Energy (RISE) of PolyU, and was co-chaired by Prof. Liang An (PolyU), Prof. Mengying Li (PolyU), Prof. Jian Wang (CityU), Prof. Weihong Li (CityU), Prof. Xianguo Li (University of Waterloo) and Prof. Jianbo Zhang (Tsinghua University).  Miss Kate Fung served as the secretariat for the conference.   It is our honour to have Ir Professor Christopher Chao, our Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Mr Arthur Lee, Commissioner for Climate Change in the Environment and Ecology Bureau of HKSARG to deliver the welcome speech and the opening speech.   In the Conference, more than 300 speakers and participants from 15 different countries and regions, such as United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Italy, France, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, India, New Zealand, South Korean, and Mainland China etc. shared their valuable insights towards the recent developments in hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, fuel cells, and innovative systems.   Besides, the conference also features a 3MT competition for research postgraduate students.   In the closing ceremony, we had award presentation session, more than 50 awardees are awarded with Best Poster Awards, Best Presentation Awards and 3MT Competition Awards. Congratulations to all of the awardees! At the end, Professor Xianguo LI are invited to announce an existing news which is the next World Fuel Cell Conference would be held in Japan! More information will be provided later.   Undoubtedly, this conference provides an excellent platform for scientists, engineers, industrial practitioners, and governmental policy makers to exchange ideas and seek collaborations on the development and applications of hydrogen energy, fuel cells, and the inter-connection.   We’d like to thank all participants to join our Conference and look forward to the next conference!   Conference detail: https://www.iahe-fcd.org/wfcc2025  

BEEE Industry Day 2025: Celebrating Excellence and Fostering Connections

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) successfully hosted its annual Industry Day on 14 June 2025. The event brought together students, faculty, alumni, and industry partners to celebrate outstanding achievements and strengthen connections within the building sciences community.   The official ceremony began with a warm welcome from Professor Asif Sohail Usmani, Head of Department. (Remark: Prof. Ni Meng assumes the role of Head of Department effective 1 July 2025.) Professor L.T. Wong delivered the opening speech, highlighting the department’s recent milestones and future aspirations. The event also featured the presentation of the Outstanding Alumni Award, with Ir Dr CHAN Chi Wing sharing valuable insights and experiences from his distinguished career.   Professor Anthony Yuen then recognized student achievements and introduced the Research Exhibition, emphasizing the importance of innovation and collaboration in building sciences.   A highlight of the ceremony was the Industry Day Presentation, where both research and degree students were honored for their exceptional work. Awards presented included Special Citations in various disciplines, Merit Awards, Grand Awards, and the prestigious Pioneer Award, with recipients sharing their experiences and aspirations.   Following the ceremony, a poster exhibition showcased cutting-edge research and innovative projects by students, providing a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange and networking. Guests also enjoyed a tea reception, fostering further interaction among participants.   BEEE Industry Day 2025 was a resounding success, celebrating the achievements of our talented students and strengthening the bonds between academia and industry. The department extends its heartfelt congratulations to all awardees and sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to making this event memorable.   The photo gallery can be found here.  

BEEE Fire Lab Team Awarded in the PolyU Research Student Conference (PRSC) 2025

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is proud to announce that our PolyU Fire Lab research team: Mr. Wong Ho Yin, Mr. Wang Meng, Dr Zhang Xiaoning, Dr Zhang Yuxin, Prof. Huang Xinyan, has their research paper won the Best Paper 1st Runner-up Award in the PolyU Research Student Conference (PRSC) 2025.   Their work, “Safe Evacuation Framework with Intelligent Dynamic Exit Sign System and Demonstration in Tunnel Fire”, supported by the SureFire Project, addressed the research gaps in the global development of dynamic exit sign systems. This research work introduces the framework and guidelines for the systems and further establishes the Reversion Mechanism to minimize ethical concerns and boost practical implementation. Also, the entire system was conducted in a lab-scale tunnel with real fires to validate its performance.    Led by Research Postgraduate (RPg) students to promote innovative and high-quality research, PRSC is the flagship research student conference, providing RPg students and the students of College of Undergraduate Researchers and Innovators (CURI) in PolyU with the opportunity to present their research work and findings. PRSC also provides an excellent opportunity for students from different disciplines to network with peers, and establishes a collaborative and supportive research community at PolyU.   The Department of BEEE congratulates Prof Xinyan Huang’s research team on their outstanding achievements and wishes them continued success.  

BEEE Chair Professor Honoured with Prestigious ASHRAE Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award 2025

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is delighted to announce that Professor Christopher Chao, Vice President (Research and Innovation) and Chair Professor of Thermal and Environmental Engineering, has been awarded the distinguished Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award 2025 by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The award was presented at the ASHRAE Annual Conference held in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, on 21 June 2025.   Established in 1894, ASHRAE is a leading global professional society dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and related fields. The Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award, inaugurated in 1979, recognises individuals for their sustained excellence and leadership in engineering and research. As one of ASHRAE’s highest honours, the award is presented to only one Fellow each year, or may not be awarded if no suitable candidate is identified.   Professor Chao is the third recipient from Asia to receive this esteemed recognition, joining distinguished professors from the University of Hong Kong and the National University of Singapore. As the sole awardee invited to deliver an acceptance speech on stage, Professor Chao remarked, “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from ASHRAE. This award reflects not only my work but also the dedication and innovation of my colleagues at PolyU over the years. Together, we strive to advance research and innovation in the field of building energy and environment, contributing to the academic and professional communities that inspire us to push the boundaries of engineering excellence.”   Professor Chao’s pioneering research integrates intelligent building systems with infectious disease prevention. By leveraging AI-driven energy optimisation, he creates infection-resilient and energy-efficient environments, positioning smart buildings as vital for both health and sustainability.   This international recognition of Professor Chao’s achievements underscores PolyU’s and BEEE’s commitment to research excellence and innovation, further reinforcing the University’s standing as a leader in the region. His contributions, particularly in sustainable building technologies, have made a significant impact on both academic research and practical applications.   For more information about the ASHRAE Louise and Bill Holladay Distinguished Fellow Award, please visit the ASHRAE official website.  

New Assistant Professor – Prof. Wang Jingyi

BEEE is delighted to announce the appointment of Prof. Wang Jingyi as an Assistant Professor, effective from 1st July 2025. Prof. Wang has recently transferred from the Department of Building and Real Estate (BRE) to BEEE. We look forward to her continued contributions and the valuable expertise she will bring to her new role.   Prof. Wang Jingyi received her Bachelor’s degree in Built Environment and Energy Engineering and a PhD degree in Civil Engineering from Tsinghua University, obtained a Master’s degree in Energy Technologies from the University of Cambridge. After her graduation, Prof. Wang worked in industry and at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen. She is also a certificated Senior Engineer in Green Buildings.   Prof. Wang has published over 30 journal papers and has been granted 12 invention patents. Throughout her research career, she has secured over 3.5 million in external funding as PI/PC. Her research focuses on developing low-carbon, high-efficiency hydrogen utilization systems for sustainable built environments, with specialized expertise in fuel cell combined heat & power generation, renewable hydrogen production, industrial waste heat recovery, and integrated hydrogen energy system. Prof. Wang aims to integrate these technologies to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of building energy systems, contributing to more resilient urban environments.  

BEEE Academic Staff Honored in Stanford's Top 2% Scientists Compilation

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is delighted to announce a significant achievement under the leadership of its new Head, Professor Ni. 17 BEEE academic staff members have been recognized among the world's top 2% of scientists in their respective disciplines, according to the index recently compiled by Stanford University. These distinguished scholars have been included in the “Career-long Impact” list based on their citation impact throughout their careers. BEEE Top 2% Scientists in the Global List  Name Subject Field (Top-Ranked Science-Metrix Category) ProfessorNi Meng Energy Ir Professor Christopher Chao Building & Construction Professor Chen Qingyan Building & Construction Ir Professor Niu Jianlei Building & Construction Ir Professor Wang Shengwei Energy Professor Asif Sohail Usmani  Civil Engineering  Professor Yan Jinyue Jerry Energy Ir Professor Lai Hung Kit Joseph Building & Construction Ir Professor Lu Lin Vivien Energy Ir Professor Mak Cheuk Ming Acoustics Ir Professor Mui Kwok Wai Horace Building & Construction Professor Xiao Fu Building & Construction Ir Professor Yang Hongxing Energy ProfessorCao Sunliang Energy ProfessorHuang Xinyan Energy Ir ProfessorWong Ling Tim Building & Construction Professor Yuen Anthony Chun Yin Mechanical Engineering & Transports   The latest release of the citation indicators, compiled by a team of experts led by Professor John Ioannidis at Stanford University, is based on the top 100,000 scientists by c-score (with and without self-citations) or those with a percentile rank of 2% or above in their sub-field. Scientists are classified into 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields according to the standard Science-Metrix classification.   This publicly available database provides standardized information on citations, h-index, co-authorship adjusted hm-index, citations to papers in different authorship positions, and a composite indicator. The complete list can be found here. (As per the data published by Elsevier on 16 September 2024 (version 7) )   Congratulations to our top scientists for this well-deserved recognition!  

New Department Head Announced – Prof. NI Meng

Professor Ni Meng Head of Unit Associate Dean of FCE Chair Professor of Energy Science and Technology The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) celebrates the announcement that Professor Ni Meng has been appointed the new Head of BEEE, starting on 1 July 2025. Prior to joining BEEE, Professor Ni Meng received his Bachelor (2000) and Master (2003) degrees in Aero-engine Engineering from Northwestern Polytechnical University. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and received The Hong Kong Young Scientist Award in 2007. Professor Ni then stayed at HKU as a Post-doctoral researcher for two years before joining The Hong Kong Polytechnic University as an Assistant Professor in July 2009. Professor Ni was promoted to Associate Professor in 2012, and then to Full Professor and Associate Head (Research) in July 2016. He was appointed as Associate Dean of the Faculty of Construction and Environment in July 2021. Professor Ni conducted collaborative research at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany, in 2017 as a Humboldt Fellow (Alexander von Humboldt Foundation). He received the Innovation Award from China Energy Research Society in 2022 and RGC Senior Research Fellow award in 2023.  He is a Fellow of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers.   Professor Ni Meng’s research interests include fuel cells, hydrogen energy, rechargeable metal-air batteries, and electrochemical systems for low-grade waste heat utilization. Professor Ni is an active reviewer for over 80 academic journals, including Science, Nature Energy, Nature Communications, Joule, Advanced Materials, and others. He served as Associate Editor for Science Bulletin from 2015 to 2017. Currently, he is a Co-Editor-in-Chief for Energy Reviews (Elsevier), a Senior Editor for Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments (Elsevier) and e-Prime (Elsevier), and an Associate Editor for International Journal of Green Energy (Taylor & Francis), Energy Storage (Wiley), and Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering (Wiley).  

BEEE PhD Student Honoured with Two Research Awards at the CIB World Building Congress 2025

The Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is pleased to share that Ms Sanduni Peiris, a PhD student under the supervision of Professor Joseph H.K. Lai and Professor Mohan Kumaraswamy, has received two prestigious awards at the CIB World Building Congress 2025, held at Purdue University, USA.    Sanduni was presented with the Best Paper Award in the category W070 – Facilities Management and Maintenance, and the 4th Emerald Award, which also includes a cash prize of GBP 100, in recognition of her research paper titled "Developing a Smart Retrofitting Decision-Making Model for Office Buildings: A Case Study."    The awarded paper presents a multi-criteria decision-making model that supports facility managers in selecting optimal smart retrofit options. By integrating expert input, retrofit project data and a final ranking process, the study provides a structured and transparent evaluation tool for use in real-world retrofitting scenarios. The model was validated through a case study on a 40-storey office building in Hong Kong.    Sanduni’s work contributes to the advancement of data-driven decision-making in the built environment and aligns with multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).    The Department congratulates Sanduni on this outstanding achievement and wishes her continued success in her academic journey.