GreenRoof Subsidy Scheme
This is a five-year program which aims to encourage roof greening on the existing building only. This program is funded by the government and subjected to a yearly review. Amendments would be made if necessary after reviews.
Key points of the scheme
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Conditions for subsidy
Subsidies will only be granted if:
A) All funding is spent on all relevant works of installation of a green roof (approved case by case)
B) Any green roof products should have been certified by Green Roof Association (GRA)
C) Any green roof consultancies should have been certified by Green Roof Association (GRA)
D) Subsidies will not be granted if
1. New addition to existing green roof systems
2. Received subsidies from other organizations
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Amount of subsidy
A. Total amount of subsidy under the scheme
A fix amount of $HKD is applicable each year. The amount of subsidy is subjected to a yearly reviewed. The total expenditure on this 5-year subsidy scheme is estimated to be less than $HKD. Eligible applicants are served on the first come first served basis.
B. Amount of subsidy for each applicant
This is a one-off subsidy. The cost of installation a green roof is subsidized up to a certain percentage per square meter. In order to encourage more roof greening by individuals rather than just to satisfy the minimum legal requirement, the amount subsidy increases with percentage of roof area greened. The more the roof area greened, the more the subsidy is rewarded. Moreover, the percentage of subsidy is the highest in the first year. The figures are subject to yearly review.
The following example illustrate the reward system:
Let’s take 20% of roof greened as a benchmark. in year 1, the cost to be bore is just double (increase from $1,494 to $3,287) if the applicants decide to green 90% of the roof instead of 20%.
For further details, please refer to the appendix.
[1] http://www.skyrisegreenery.com/images/uploads/misc/Calculation_guide.pdf
‘Green Roof Peace’ is a non-profit association which aims to popularize green roofs in Hong Kong. This association involves both the public and private organizations when promoting green roofs. Relevant works are as follows:[1]
A) To launch an HK Green Roof Conferences
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To publicize the latest research on technologies and greening case studies
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To facilitate the exchange of information on recent greening development
B) To develop cost effective policies suitable for green roof development in Asia
C) To connect and lead the roof greening industry by setting up a corporate membership scheme
D) Green roof workshops to show the benefits of green roof to the public and professionals
[1] http://www.greenroofs.org/
A new set of Joint Practice Notes, JPN No. 5 will be issued in early 2017, the Third Package of Incentives to Promote Green and Innovative Buildings. It mainly concerns with roof greening features in residential and non-residential buildings.
1. The bonus GFA for new developments equals to the net area of green roof that exceeds the statutory requirements.
2. The net area of the green roof occupies more than 50% of the area of the floor plate of the roof as stated in the B(GR)R.
3. Green roof materials are used as stated by the GRA and supplied by the GRMSs.
another title
Bonus GFA for New Developments
Incentive Schemes
After seeing the plus of roof greening and understanding the barriers of its implementation, we came up with solutions to push this idea forward. The Mandatory Roof Greening Scheme (MRGS) is coupled with a total of 5 incentive schemes, which aim to implement the greening policies swiftly and smoothly. The cost analysis will be illustrated in later parts.
HK-BEAM with Roof Greening Element
By incorporating the HK-Beam with Roof Greening Element, more green roofs can be built.
Key points in HK-BEAM:
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A voluntary initiative to benchmark building sustainability and to benefit the community in Hong Kong[1].
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A rating tool which provides guidance and options for building owners and developers to plan, build and create a green building.
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The widespread adoption of BEAM means that the scheme is well recognized by developers in Hong Kong.
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The BEAM Plus assessment scheme includes the six aspects of a project: Site Aspects, Materials Aspects, Energy Use, Water Use, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovations and Additions.
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Roof Greening Aspects is proposed to be incorporated into BEAM Plus assessment scheme.
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As a policy to foster a quality and sustainable built environment and an effective measure to promote green buildings in Hong Kong, certification by BEAM Plus is proposed to be one of the prerequisites for the granting of GFA bonus for roof greening features in development projects.[2]
[1] http://www.beamsociety.org.hk/en_about_us_2.php
Establish Green Roof Association
Green Roof Association is an official green roof association which is under the Buildings Department for the purpose of dealing with green roof matters related to the legal aspect.
Main responsibilities:
1. Formulating green roof policies and keep them under review to ensure seamless integration from landscape planning, design and implementation and oversee the development and implementation of standards, guidelines and best practices on green roof.
2. Publish and enforce the code of practice for green roof (under the building ordinance), to define extensive/intensive green roof and definition of green roof, requirements for the building technique and green procedure etc. The code of practice can also be deemed as a technical guideline, which can include: building technique (e.g. load bearing capacity, wind uplift protection, fire protection, temperature, noise protection, etc); and the roof technique (waterproofing material and installation, upstands, slope, drainage, etc.). Consideration must also be given to any existing regulations and guidelines for garden and landscape architecture (e.g. soil and plants, lawn, seed mixture, upkeep and maintenance works, etc.).
3. Manage the subsidy of green roof, approval of the application of funds to provide subsidy to the green roof construction
The rationale of establishing the Green Roof Association:
There is no such a specialized department for roof greening even though the government set a clear mission and vision to promote greening. The most relevant official body is the "Greening, Landscape and Tree Management section under the Development Bureau". It is responsible to deal with all matter related to greening but not particular to green roofs.
However, when the new regulation governing the compulsory green roof come out, it cannot be able to handle such a huge trend and great number of green roof, this type of management is not appreciated. Therefore, we suggest the government to form an independent green roof association which is under the building department for the purpose of dealing with green roof matters related to the legal aspect.
