The purpose of this essay is to look at the possibility and advantages of applying vertical planting on buildings in Hong Kong within the next fifty years. The concept of vertical planting was created by the French botanist Patrick Blanc (Hohenadel 2007). This method has been applied to plenty of buildings in worldwide scale for reducing pollution, saving energy and decorative purpose (BBC 2011), whereas it is new to Hong Kong. This article will focus on discussing the potential impacts of the technology like improving air quality and reducing heat island effect in Hong Kong. This essay will briefly describe the mechanism of growing plants without using soil and examine the niche for applying vertical planting domestically. It will then analyze the impact of the technique. And finally conclude by discussing whether vertical planting could improve Hong Kong resident’s life quality.
The science behind vertical planting is plant physiology. Light, water, air and nutrients are the four primary elements for the survival of terrestrial plant. The first three requirements can be easily achieved. Light is typically sufficient in a daytime. Water-supply system in the city is developed. Air is everywhere. For the last factor, it may well be replaced. In fact, an agricultural method called hydroponics grows plants in nutritional solution (BBC 2011). Plant’s root is immersed in the solution to absorb nutrients (McCall and Nakagawa 1970), and then plant could grow in a container with an irrigation system. Without soil, the weight of the container will greatly reduce, and it makes installing a modular green wall on walls possible. Plants covering buildings act as a heat insulator, heat absorber and air filter that could lower indoor temperatur...
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It is a melancholy object to those who travel through this great country to see isolated corners of this fair realm still devoted to protecting the environment. The wretched advocators of these ideals are frequently seen doling out petitions and begging at their neighbours’ doors to feed their obsession, which keeps them in the contemptible poverty that they so richly deserve.
Sunlight and light classrooms will only affect the plants at a certain time limt because the plants are place inside the building and near the windows.
There have been many means and methods in the past decade, fostered to ensure that the construction of buildings, complexes and many enormous structures are made with energy saving measures such as heat dispersal during the summer, and to also ensure the promotion of environmental sustainability such as the control of carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. And by the use of complex and highly innovative building materials like carbon fiber, such feet can be achieved.
One goal of the pilot phase was gaining clear ideas of how plants can be survived with low maintenance for the environment of school. A kit of parts was compiled, and that could be flexibly configured at any scale and does not hold back creativity. A primary category is to design a surround fence with a gate to define and protect the classroom with the plants. A second category of parts are including the materials teacher utilized for teaching. Such as natural matter to investigate, scientific tools, animal habitat, signage, raised planters etc. The BSI published the components of the two categories as the Outdoor Classroom Design
Vernacular architecture in the Dominican Republic has proven to be energy efficient and provide high thermal comfort levels, but opposite to Passive House it relies on a completely open envelope that allows the air to quickly get in and out of the spaces. Unlike Passive House, Dominican vernacular architecture has no scientific proof rather than user experience, therefore is not scientifically rigorous to hold one over the other.
Southgate, Douglas DeWitt, and Morris D. Whitaker. Economic Progress and the Environment: One Developing Country's Policy Crisis. New York: Oxford UP, 1994. Print.
A high stone wall makes it possible perfect vision and wind protection. This is only recommended if this no views will be lost. Less repellent acts the stone wall, if you grow tall plants or small trees. Bamboo is a plant that grows very tall and radiates a sensual Zen-like atmosphere.
Raised bed gardening is a form of agriculture where the soil is formed in wide beds that can be any length or shape. The topsoil is raised above the surrounding ground and is encircled by a frame that is usually made of wood, rock, or concrete blocks, and can be enhanced with compost or a soil of one’s choice. The plants are spaced much closer together than conventional row gardening, creating a lush productive gardening space that suppresses weeds and conserves moisture.
Technical documents describe the benefits, uses, and equations for structural materials. A structural codebook for bamboo does not exist, but the first manual for bamboo design was published in 2000 with the ICC‟s technical document titled Acceptance Criteria for Structural Bamboo, and the second in 2001 with the ISO‟s document Bamboo Structural Design (ISO 22156). The ICC‟s document defines codes and references to use during structural bamboo design and procedures for testing. The ISO document, referred to as ISO 22156, was created to centralize the suggestions of researchers. ISO 22156 is not an international standard, but a step in the recognition of bamboo by other agencies as a structural material and creation of a codebook for design. ISO 22156 has suggestions for design and drawing details to provide adequate guidance essential for proper bamboo structural design. ISO 22156 is summarized to increase understanding of requirements for designing bamboo structures. Traditional knowledge can provide adequate design of bamboo structures, but structural engineering occurs when the engineer verifies the loads on a building and executes a safe, affordable, and sustainable design. Generally, a material has a codebook governing the structural design, which has information regarding equations, detail guidelines, and construction practices. Bamboo has a manual of guidelines, ISO 22156, and empirical design criteria to accommodate quality design practice but requires the dev...
Chasek, P. S., Downie, D. L., & Brown, J. W. (2014). The Development of Environmental Regimes: Chemicals, Wastes, and Climate Change. In P. S. Chasek, D. L. Downie, & J. W. Brown, Global Environmental Politics (6th ed., pp. 101-173). Boulder: Westview Press.
Bamboo is a building material that is mostly used in rural communities for houses, but even Architects and Engineers are beginning to use Bamboo for it strength as a structural component and a styling agent by means of bamboo window blinds and many more. Bamboo is also commonly used as a type of construction for schools, farms and bridges. Bamboo is also used as scaffolding, shutters, a reinforcing agent for concrete and water piping, the demand for bamboo has recently increased as a new development of variety of bamboo based panels (Dunkelberg, 1992) has been constructed and incorporated into many buildings. Small buildings both non-structural and structural in nature both can be made entirely out of bamboo with the obvious exception of chimneys and fireplaces due to bamboo being a fuelling agent for fires, but it is not used alone it...
There are many people who long for picking their own herbs and vegetables, appropriate from their windowsill to the supper plate, yet they don't know where to start. For the beginner, indoor gardening can yield year-round plants if you have the correct tools and knowledge. Depending on where you live, the vast majority of the outside planting season keeps going through the spring and summer. By cultivating inside, plants can develop all year without stress of temperature changes or unforgiving conditions. Indoor gardening enables beginners like you and me to slip into the leisure activity. As usual, don't hesitate to comment in with other planting tips and thoughts. I am not an expert, yet I do guarantee to share every tip that I know and share
Despite the fact that novel technologies are continuously under development to complement existing practices in coming up with greener buildings, the universal intent is that such structures are designed to diminish the general effect on the built environment on health of the humans in addition to the natural environment via: Diminishing environmental degradation, pollution and waste, improving productivity of the employee and guarding occupant health, efficient usage of water, energy, in addition to other resources.
(7) Adams, W. M. The Future of Sustainability: Re-thinking Environment and Development in the Twenty-first Century. Rep. The World Conservation Union, 22 May 2006. Web. 23 Oct. 2013.