TABLE OF CONTENTS - The Professional Green Building Council

Theme B: Creating a livable, healthy and environmentally viable citiesFigure 4:Vertical green panels designed to clad onto the external wall and laidflat on roofs of lift tower.6. BIOTECHNICAL RESEARCHTo ensure long term performance of the vertical green panels, biotechnicalresearch is being conducted to:a)test out the most optimal plant selection criteria in relation to their performanceunder different seasons and orientationsb)sustain vegetation growth relevant to the available management resources inhousing estatesc)prepare guidelines for the future development and maintenance of the verticalgreen panel system.A field site for the technical study has been set up in end July 2007 at the openspace of EHC Site Phase1 with four light weight metal structures in north-southorientations to support the green panels. This is a 15-month research project duefor completion in early 2009. The research comprises four studies exploringdifferent aspects of the vertical green panel system including plant performanceunder different watering regimes for individual panels and panel clusters; Speciesselection; effect of soil thickness on plant growth; fertility persistence of thesystem and nutrient loss from the panels.The research should facilitate an optimum vertical green design in terms oftechnicalities and maintainability; evaluate the environmental effectiveness ofvertical green panels at congested urban areas; and establish benchmarkingperformance based on the current design, for further improvement.191