Page 47 - Hong Kong Green School Guide

3. Green School Guide - 3.1 Green School Sites

Hong Kong Green Building Council

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3.1.5 Planting on Ground

Applies to NS & ES

Benefits

• Planting trees at ground level can effectively

reduce carbon dioxide. Each healthy tree can

reduce air borne dust particles by as much as

7,000 particles per litre of air, thus a healthy tree

is a free standing air conditioner and purifier.

You need about 500 full-sized trees to absorb

the carbon dioxide produced by a typical car

driven 12,000 miles/year consumption

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;

• Pleasant learning environment for students;

• Reduce heat island effect, i.e. reduce the local

ambient temperatures and therefore space

discomfort;

• Filter dust pollutants and improve local air quality;

• Visual enjoyment;

• Reduce surface runoff to drainage system hence improve storm water

management and ground water recharge; and

• Enhance biodiversity.

Issues to Consider

a. Opportunities

• Plants (e.g. trees, flowers, grass, shrubs, bamboos) can be grown in the

campus;

• Trees with high amenity/conservation value and of good form should be

preserved where appropriate; and

• Integration of greenery with building design for better ventilation and

insulation, and resulted in energy saving.

b. Constraints

• Small school sites for at-grade greenery;

• Space for planting in particular at-grade tree planting;

• Shading from surrounding buildings;

• Compliance to Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Buildings 2011 by Buildings

Department, such as fire escape route, emergency vehicle access, etc;

• Additional water supply point for irrigation;

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GrowingPlanet. (2002). Benefits of Trees. Retrieved 1 June, 2012 fromhttp://www.growingplanet.org/benefitoftrees.html

International Society ofArboriculture. Trees are Good. (2009).

Tree Care Information. Retrieved 1 June, 2012, from