Reduction of Heat Island Effect
What is Heat Island Effect?
A phenomenon that occurs in developed areas where the replacement of natural land cover with paving, buildings, roads, parking lots, and other structures result in an increase in outdoor temperatures. The heat island effect can be mitigated by vegetation, green roofs, and light colored materials that reflect heat. Urban heat islands can be as much as 10°F hotter than the surrounding undeveloped areas.
Stormwater management
In urban area, man-made surface are impermeable and drainage schemes for these surfaces are devised to remove rainwater from them as fast and efficiently as possible. The impermeable nature of urban paved areas and ensuing high run-off has created a number of problems such as: flooding, contamination of storm-water, combined sewage overflows, increase in water temperture...etc
Green Therapy
Psychological studies have demonstrated that the restorative effect of natural scenery holds the viewer’s attention, diverts their awareness away from themselves and worrisome thoughts and elicits a meditation-like state. This is deemed to have only a moderate significance in the Hong Kong context and largely depends on the location and use of any particular green roof.
Other features:
- Energy saving
- Reduce renovation costs
- Air quality improvement
- Reduce electromagnetic radiation
- Use of biodegradable materials
- Use of recycled materials
- Educational benefit
- Aesthetic benefit
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