HSBC has installed its first-ever energy saving rooftop garden at a 16-floor Mongkok office. The original concrete roof was converted into a 'green' sky garden, which is predicted to lower roof temperatures by two degrees Celsius and reduce the air-conditioning load required in the office below.

The garden also promotes the re-use of wastewater generated from the building's air conditioning system, collecting around one cubic metre of water daily for irrigation. A solar-powered film, only a couple of millimetres thick, will generates 2kWh of electricity annuallyhich helps cut up to 1 tonne of carbon dioxide annually.

The project was the first of its kind for the project manager and concept designer according to Andy Coy, a Partner, EC Harris Hong Kong. "Construction of a sky garden in an existing building like this has been described by many within the building industry as impossible," he said. Coy continued that the success of the garden shows that effective planning and management can deliver on cutting-edge green projects. RFP