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HSBC Green Roof for Schools programme
Initiated by the Hongkong Bank Foundation in collaboration with The University of Hong Kong, the HK$5 million Programme has created outdoor classrooms on green roofs for teachers and students in 10 selected schools in Hong Kong. Since its launch in 2007, more than 8,000 students and teachers have benefited from this programme.
HSBC has helped environmentally-conscious customers put their good intentions to practice - even when spending with their credit cards. Customers of Green Credit Card contributed to the setting up of green roofs in schools as HSBC has donated an equivalent sum of 0.1 per cent of cardholder spending to the HSBC Green Roof for Schools programme.
To enable more students and schools to take action for the environment, HSBC, in partnership with Professor C Y Jim, Chair Professor of Geography, Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, has published the 'City Cooler and Cleaner Teachers' Toolkit.' The Toolkit is the first book in Hong Kong that integrates teaching and learning about green roofs in tandem with topical environmental issues such as climate change and the urban heat island effect, and will be made available to all schools in Hong Kong.
The Bank hopes more schools and other sectors will embed outdoor classrooms on green roofs for their teaching and for building a cooler and cleaner Hong Kong.
Teresa Au
HSBC Head of Corporate Sustainability
Asia Pacific Region
Green roofs have already been established in 10 primary and secondary schools, including:
- Baptist (Sha Tin Wai) Lui Ming Choi Primary School
- Caritas Tuen Mun Marden Foundation Secondary School, Tuen Mun
- Christian Alliance SW Chan Memorial College
- HK and Kowloon Kaifong Women's Association Sun Fong Chung College, Tai Po
- Kau Yan College, Tai Po
- King Ling College, Tseung Kwan O
- Marymount Primary School
- SKH Kei Fook Primary School
- Tin Shui Wai Catholic Primary School
- Tsang Mui Millennium School, Sheung Shui
"Students of the new generation seldom have contact with nature during their 10 to 15 years of school life. Through this programme, students can get first-hand knowledge and experience of the nature and ecology. Schools have also integrated horticulture with teaching and learning and invited parents to join the environmental activities at schools.
Professor C Y Jim
Chair Professor of Geography, Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong
"With the teachers' efforts, the green roof has become an ecology garden which has attracted various insect fauna. This can provide a platform for students to study flora and fauna and to put their environmental knowledge into practice."
Chan Kin-shun
Principal of Tsang Mui Millennium School
"Environmental education must be conducted in outdoor setting. Students can learn through real experience at the ecological garden. It is important to nurture the students with environmental consciousness so that they can contribute to urban greening when they grow up."
Pang Yuk-man
Teacher of Tsang Mui Millennium School
"After the establishment of green roof, I've become more proactive in attempting different teaching methods and exchanging ideas with other teachers. I've also encouraged students to actively participate in environmental protection initiatives at schools."
Lam Lin-fong
Teacher of HK and Kowloon Kaifong Women's Association Sun Fong Chung College
"The outdoor classroom has improved my understanding on the environment and teaching materials. I also promote the benefits of green roof to my classmates."
Lam Hoi-yan
Student of HK and Kowloon Kaifong Women's Association Sun Fong Chung College
Community and environmental benefits
- Increase green space in schools which often lack ground-level open space or gardens.
- Reduce school building temperatures and combat the "urban heat island effect" (ie the phenomenon of urban temperatures being higher than temperatures in the surrounding rural areas) which should reduce air conditioning use.
- Improve air quality in the city. The lawn surfaces can help filter and absorb dust particles and other harmful air pollutants.
Learn more about Green Credit Card
Green outdoor classrooms have been created on the rooftops of 10 selected schools across Hong Kong since the HSBC Green Roof for Schools programme was launched in 2007, benefiting more than 8,000 students and teachers.
From right: Teresa Au, HSBC Head of Corporate Sustainability Asia Pacific Region, Stephen Yip Yamwing, Chief Curriculum Development Officer, Education Bureau, HKSAR Government and Professor C Y Jim, Chair Professor of Geography, Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong officiated at the launch of the 'City Cooler and Cleaner Teachers' Toolkit' with students of schools participating in HSBC Green Roof for Schools programme.
The green roof in Tsang Mui Millennium School has been transformed to an ecological garden. The environmental ambassadors form an ecological team at school and explain the knowledge of flora and insects to lower-form students.
Students of HK and Kowloon Kaifong Women's Association Sun Fong Chung College are having lessons at the green roof which can increase their understanding on the environment and teaching materials.
Green roof in Caritas Tuen Mun Marden Foundation Secondary School, Tuen Mun.
Green roof in HK and Kln Kaifong Women's Association Sun Fong Chung College, Tai Po.
Green roof in Kau Yan College, Tai Po.
Green roof in King Ling College, Tseung Kwan O.
Green roof in Tsang Mui Millennium School, Sheung Shui.
Rooftop building absorbs solar energy which increases indoor temperature leading to higher demand in energy for air conditioning.
Magnitude of air temperature reduction after green roof installation, with the summer day time maximum roof surface temperature to be reduced by around 20 degree.
HSBC donates 0.1% of cardholder spending of Green Credit Card to the HSBC Green Roof for Schools programme.
Community projects and activities
HSBC supports the Green Roof for Schools programme which increases students' knowledge of green roofs and climate issues. This encourages the young for environmental innovation and helps unleash their creativity, which can make a positive impact on a cooler and cleaner Hong Kong.
Peter Wong
Chief Executive, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited
