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BEAM PLUS FOR NEW B UILDINGS S ITE ASPECTS (S A)
V ERSION 1.2 SA 7 LANDSCAPING AND PLANTERS
Copyright © 2012 BEAM Society Limited. All rights reserved.
Page 45
a) Hard landscaping
Where it can be demonstrated that a minimum 50% of hard landscaped
area (e.g. roadways, surface parking, plazas, pathways, but excluding
Emergency Vehicular Access), are pervious and measures are taken to
restrict the contamination of ground waters by oil and similar
contaminants, the credit shall be awarded.
b) Soft landscaping
It is expected that due account shall be taken of the plant type and
planter designs to minimise watering and maintenance requirements.
The species, density, topsoil, fertiliser, pesticide, planting maintenance,
etc. should comply with the General Specification for Building Section 25:
Landscape, or at least equal equivalent.
The Client shall demonstrate compliance through quantification of the
areas of greenery on the site and any building, including sky gardens,
podium areas, roofs and other parts of the building. The soft landscaped
calculation method shall follow the criteria set out in PNAP APP-152 [2].
Where the target percentage can be achieved, the credit(s) shall be
awarded.
BACKGROUND In addition to mitigating any damage to site ecology, landscaping
strategies can:
 enhance a site’s microclimate (trees for shade and windbreaks,
ponds and fountains, acoustic barriers, podium with gardens, etc.);
 provide for efficient irrigation (efficient use of direct rainfall, plant
selection, water retention, materials in walkways allowing percolation
to sub-soil, using well water, drip irrigation systems, etc.); and
 control surface run-off (roof ponds, holding tanks, semi-permeable
surfaces on open areas, etc.)
Large expanses of greenery are difficult to secure in densely built city
centres. However, the provision of plants on the outside and on rooftops
contributes to making the city greener. For example, a building rooftop
covered with greenery can significantly reduce surface temperature in
summer, compared with bare asphalt or concrete rooftops. Roof
greenery also can reduce peak roof runoff and alleviate storm drainage
pressure. To protect and improve the built and natural environment, the
Government in promoting the construction of green and innovative
buildings has identified communal sky gardens and communal podium
gardens [3,4].
Water pollution in Hong Kong remains a problem. Measures that mitigate
against pollution will help reduce the environmental loading. Criteria for
protection of the aquatic environment against water pollution include
consideration of all the aquatic components: water quality, hydrology,
bottom sediments, and ecology.
3 Buildings Department et al. Joint Practice Note No. 1 Green and Innovative Buildings. October 2004.
4 Buildings Department et al. Joint Practice Note No. 2 Second Package of Incentives to Promote Green and Innovative
Buildings. February 2006.