The Housing Department (HD) is testing out a series of greening initiatives at its construction projects to further enhance the provision of greenery to congested urban sites.

Noting that the Department has always attached importance to environmental protection, the Deputy Director of Housing (Development and Construction), Ms Ada Fung said that greenery has been planted on rooftops of some of its shopping arcades, carparks and related small structures.

To further explore greening in housing estates, Eastern Harbour Crossing (EHC) Phase 4 in Yau Tong is piloting to test out a vertical green panel system in form of modular prefabricated external cladding.

"The panels can be cladded on vertical surfaces as well as installed at roof areas. The modulated prefabricated panels enable easy on-site installation and future maintenance works."

"To test out the most optimal soil mix and plant species mixes for the panels, trial panels would be installed on site during construction stage
and relocated to their permanent locations upon completion of the project," Ms Fung said.

EHC Phase 4, scheduled to be completed in mid 2009, consists of three 41-storey domestic blocks with 2 369 flats. A total of 2 650 square metres greening space would be provided.

Green roof is also proposed at EHC Phase 4 at all roof areas with minimum four hours direct sunlight per day including roofs of lift towers and ground floor canopy. Horizontal trellis are provided at both sides of the roof top of the footbridge and double deck walkway to allow growing of climbing species to enhance visual and thermal comfort.

"Greenery at roof offers wide range of benefits such as helping to reduce the heat island effect, contributing to building insulation and energy efficiency, and enhance visual comfort," Ms Fung said.

To explore the feasibility of large reusable panels at hoarding, the construction site of EHC Phase 4 has adopted the pilot concept of green hoarding.

"The large reusable panels, which is serve as dust and noise screening device, are demountable and can be moved to other construction sites," Ms Fung said.

"To improve the visual effects of man-made slopes and high retaining walls, all phases of EHC will carry out greening works to slopes and wall surfaces as far as possible to improve the overall environmental quality of the 'hard' surface to increase green coverage and reduce heat island effect of the domestic blocks," Ms Fung said.

"Different design measures will be adopted to cope with specific site condition and constraints," she said.


End

Photo 1:Vertical green panels cladded on external walls of the lift tower and footbridges at Eastern Harbour Crossing Phase 4

Photo 2:Vertical green panels installed at the green corridor of the Eastern Harbour Crossing Phase 4

Photo 3:Vertical green panels cladded on external walls of the lift tower and footbridges at Eastern Harbour Crossing Phase 4

Photo 4:Deputy Director of Housing (Development & Construction) Ms Ada Fung introduces the Vertical Green Panel System which is now on trial at the Housing Department's Eastern Harbour Crossing Phase 4 site

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