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Helping Businesses Builda Better Tomorrow
Midori-chan™ is a revolutionary Japanese
greening system developed by Kawada
Industries, Inc., that has been designed forbuilding rooftops and roadside greening
projects. It uses natural rainwater and recycled
waste material to promote maximum vegetation
growth, which minimises maintenance andwater use. Unlike other competing systems,
which are often merely superficial examples of“green washing” to give the appearance ofbeing environmentally friendly, the Midorichan™ system is truly green throughout. Our
engineers in Japan have developed thisinnovative technology to encourage greener,
cleaner communities and help companies createa sustainable future for all.
The Midori-chan™ system operates in a natural
way by cleaning, storing and recycling
rainwater, before supplying it to more than 100
potential species of plants. The ultra-lightweightsystem transfers moisture from water storage
units via the thermal energy balance in the soil.
A specially regenerated layer of charcoal filters
the rainwater before it is drawn up into theplants’ roots.

Installing the Midori-chan™ greening system in your project offers
the following benefits:Saves costs by using dramatically lesswater than conventional greening
systems

Reduces temperatures of concrete decks
by over 30°C

Decreases the thermal load of thelocal environment by transferring
heat to vegetation

Removes more CO2 from the atmospherethrough photosynthesis

Offers flexibility around loading
constraints by tailoring soil depth,
as required

With Midori-chan™, you can achieve asustainable green space while building
a better tomorrow

How the Midori-chan™ System Works
Our ultra-lightweight system harnesses the power of nature by making the most of rainfall, creatinga truly green, sustainable space for your project, whatever its size.
Rainwater is cleaned as it filters through Kawada’s special capillary-action soil mix, plus a layerof regenerated charcoal, into water storage units
The water storage units are locked and interlinked, much like ice-cube trays, and are designed toenable excess water to drain away naturally
Resin nets above the water storage units enable the hassle-free installation of bags ofregenerated charcoal
Vegetation roots won’t access the filtered rainwater directly due to a root barrier layer between
the resin net and regenerated charcoal
The water storage units ensure an air gap exists between the stored water surface and theregenerated charcoal
Surface soil starts to dry during hot weather
The layer of regenerated charcoal below the soil absorbs water vapour from the air gap andfeeds water steadily to the roots abovegb
Special soil mix
Mulch
Regenerated charcoal

sWater storage unit

Stored water

Levelling material
Mulch(Cunninghamia lanceolata)

Air gap

Special soil mix

Sophisticated formof regenerated charcoal

Stored water

Water storage unit
(recycled plastic)

Root barrier
Resin sheet

Water Storage Unit Types
Standard type (34L/m2)

Slim type (16L/m2)

70mm

40mm

Vegetation Characteristics
The Midori-chan™ greening system allows for the installation of more than 100 plant species,
including grass, shrubs and mid-sized trees. This offers unparalleled flexibility to suit even the mostdemanding of projects in Hong Kong, or even further afield.
Grass

Grass

Groundcover

Shrubs (small)Shrubs (large)

Mid-sized trees

Slim type

Standard type

100～500mm

600mm or less

900mm～1,200mm

1,500mm～2,500mm

Vegetation installation
examplesPlant spacing200mm intervals

400mm intervals

600mm intervals

1,000mm intervals

Mulch

mm

Complete coverage Complete coverage--50505050

Soil thickness

mm5050100150

200250Regenerated charcoal

mm

303030303030

Water storage unit

mm

4070

70

7070

70

Total thickness

mm120150

250

300

350

400

Saturatedreferenceweights

Without plants kg/m2

78102

160

205245290

With plants

kg/m2

86117

168

215

301

350

Dry weight with plants

kg/m2

5262100

138

220

260

Verified by Castco Testing Centre Ltd. - June 2016

Midori-chan™ keeps future maintenance costs to a minimum, despite the broad range of plant species
available for installation. Conventional greening systems available on today’s market rely on integrated
irrigation pipes and pumps, which leads to huge water usage and associated costs. The Midori-chan™
system effectively removes these expenses by relying on Hong Kong’s abundant supply of rainwaterinstead.
In Japan, where the Midori-chan™ system has been installed on fully exposed rooftops, manualwatering has not been necessary for more than seven years. With Hong Kong’s water costs set to rise, aself-sustaining greening system is a wise investment. The Midori-chan™ system essentially acts as
insurance against inevitable water-cost hikes in the future.

Controlling Maintenance Costs
With all Midori-chan™ projects, each site only requires minimal monthly maintenance. This reduces
maintenance costs dramatically when compared with conventional greening systems. Our systemachieves this by using a finely shaved fir mulch (Cunninghamia lanceolata). The mulch sits on top of thesoil mix once the plants are in place, and provides the following benefits:
Minimises the need for weeding and watering
Forms a matrix that prevents weeds from germinating
Improves the overall appearance of a project during its initial stages
Reduces the soil-moisture dispersion rate

Case Study: Fo Tan Railway House
Since 2012, Midori-chan™ has conducted a pilot project at the MTR Corporation’s (MTRC) Fo Tan
Railway House rooftop. The MTRC desired to make significant lifecycle savings on its Fo Tan greening
project, based on the following criteria:
Water prices will increase significantly over the next 20-year periodHong Kong imports 80% of its water from mainland China
Water sources in mainland China are under increasing pressure from large-scale agriculture andheavy industry
Our pilot project has taken place during one of the driest periods in Hong Kong since records began.
The results from Fo Tan so far highlight the following:
Midori-chan™ rooftop gardens are environmentally friendly as they utilise fully recycled orrecyclable materials, while keeping water usage to a minimum
Midori-chan™ rooftop gardens are economically feasible as they remove the need forexpensive, highly maintained irrigation systems and unsustainable levels of water usage
The Midori-chan™ greening system remains cost effective and aesthetically pleasing inchallenging environmental conditions

How Fo Tan Compares with Conventional Systems
The MTRC has carried out a comparative trial using a conventional greening system at Tai Po Station
over a 10-month period. The trial adopted identical plant species at the two sites.
Government monthly water-use recommendation:
190L/m2
Irrigation water required each month:
Tai Po: 189L/m2 (for conventional competing systems)

Midori-chan™ Fo Tan: 0.35L/m2
Total irrigation water required over 10 months:
Tai Po: 2,511,965L

Midori-chan™ Fo Tan: 253L
Phases 2, 3, 4 and 5 at Fo Tan have now been implemented over a 30-month period. These phases
have increased water-use efficiency even further to a monthly consumption rate of 0.17L/m2. Our low
irrigation figures can be enhanced even further by ensuring your rooftop is fully covered in greeneryand deploys properly sealed ABWF works.

Offering Flexibility with Birkdale International Limited in Sheung Shui
Over the last five years, we have worked closelywith Birkdale International Limited, a globally
recognised, leading landscape contractor andour trusted installation partner, at their
headquarters in Sheung Shui. Birkdale
International Limited is responsible for theinstallation and maintenance of the Midorichan™ greening system in Hong Kong, as well
as for providing the soil mix, which has beenthoroughly tested by Kawada Industries, Inc. at
our laboratories in Japan. Our continual trials inSheung Shui, conducted in collaboration with

Birkdale International Limited, have enabled us
to tailor our approach to suit the arduous
climate of Hong Kong and ensure the longevityof all Midori-chan™ projects. As a result ofthese trials, we have created a “plant palette”
that comprises more than 100 species in a rangeof colours, heights and densities. Over time, wehave adjusted the following factors to ensurethat species are evergreen, low maintenance,
aesthetically pleasing and require practically noirrigation once established:

Plant palette

DesignSoil depth

Maintenancerequirements

Hard landscaping
components

Optimal soil mix

Plant spacing

Mulch typeThis approach can be applied to virtually any project. The Midori-chan™ system significantly cuts thecosts of a greening lifecycle, and can even reduce the overall cost of a new building. Our system isultra-lightweight and keeps soil depths to a minimum, resulting in less structural steel, concrete andreinforcement being needed during the construction process.

Our ultra-lightweight system could potentially make massive capital
cost savings on your project.

Global Presence
Our greening system is now firmly on the world stage as more construction projects realise the benefitsof adopting our technology. We are working closely with architects and landscape designers to explore
new applications at ground level, including median strips, roundabouts, planter boxes and green
hoardings in a number of countries and territories.

JapanChina
Hong Kong

United States

Middle EastIndia
ThailandSingapore
Philippines

South Africa●Current projects/trials
・Japan・Philippines
・Hong Kong
・United States
・China・Thailand
・Australia

Australia●Future trials
・India・Singapore
・Middle East
・South Africa

For example, using the Midori-chan™ system for median strips means:
Watering vehicles are no longer needed

Consumption of fuel is reduced, saving money

Vehicle emissions are cut, helping the environment

During what is undoubtedly a challenging time for our planet, our solution provides a sustainable,
realistic way to reduce your project’s carbon footprint. We offer a green technology that is simple,
economical and natural. We believe that the Midori-chan™ approach is the right one, and hope it willcontribute to building a better tomorrow for everyone.

Comparing Midori-chan™ with Existing Systems in Hong Kong
Structural loads are much smaller due to shallower soil depths
Continual maintenance costs are reduced as the special mulch keeps soil-base weed intrusion toa minimum
Costly, unappealing and high-maintenance irrigation systems are made redundant because oursystem utilises pure rainwater, significantly reducing overall water consumption
Structural integrity is maintained if a passenger vehicle drives over our system, whereas
conventional systems are damaged even by foot traffic
Ideal for difficult-to-access rooftops due to minimal watering, weeding and pruning
requirements
Midori-chan™ is flexible and can act as either an “extensive” or “intensive” green roof system
as only the soil depth needs to be adjusted for differing plants, shrubs and trees
Midori-chan™ is truly green as it comprises only fully recycled or recyclable materials
Our local partners can install environmentally friendly waterproofing systems as part of ourproduct offer. These are guaranteed for 20 years and are offered under Kawada Industries,
Inc.’s umbrella approach as a one-stop shop, removing concerns about potential split-warranty
claimsAcross our numerous projects in Hong Kong, the majority of plant species in 100mm of soil have notrequired irrigation since they were installed on site. Conventional, high-maintenance irrigation systems
which require costly electricity can be avoided. To test water levels in the Midori-chan™ system, onlysimple water gauges are needed. If levels are too low during a dry period, they can be topped up easily
with a hose.
Irrigation Requirement Comparison – Midori-chan vs Conventional
Systems/Government Specifications (100m2 rooftop over a 10-year period)

2,000L
Small-sized tank truck≒Midori-chan
2,000L / 100m2 / 10 years◎Self-sustaining◎Low maintenance

Midori-chan System

Olympic-size swimming pool≒ Conventional system
2,500,000L / 100m2 / 10 years

×Irrigation
×Dead plants
×Constant maintenance

Conventional SystemWaterproofing Works
If your project requires it, we can install Roofdex HB, a cold-fluid-applied, waterborne elastomeric
membrane. It provides full resistance to root damage and at least 20 years’ waterproof protection.
Roofdex HB can be applied by brush, roller or airless spray, and maintains a good wet edge in hot
conditions and has outstanding early rain resistance.
Roofdex HB uses water-based technology, so it is environmentally friendly, practically odourless anddoesn’t release toxic solvents. This allows it to be installed in densely populated urban areas. Thesystem can be applied quickly over existing roof surfaces without the need to remove the substrate,causing minimal disruption. Roofdex HB provides seamless, armoured protection with exceptional
resistance to long-term ponding.
Roofdex HB is manufactured in the UK by Flexcrete Technologies Limited, pioneers of waterborne
coating technology. Its 20-year lifespan also applies to areas where the coating is exposed to theelements, such as parapet walls or areas in direct sunlight. It is both light and heat reflective, andactively reduces energy consumption, as well as the urban heat island effect. Roofdex HD can also be
used to create maintenance walkways simply by adding another coat and incorporating a non-slip
aggregate.

Installation Sequence(1) Hoisting and unloading(2) Setting the water storage units(3) Filling the water storage units(4) Installation of industrial resin nets to preventthe charcoal bags from falling into the units(5) Overlaying of a non-woven
cloth root barrier(6) Installation of the moisture holding
regenerated charcoal bags(7) Adding of special soil mix(8) Planting vegetation(9) Water after planting to ensure properanchoring of the roots(10) Right after completion(11) Six months later(12) One year afterProjects in Hong Kong

Hong Kong MTR, Shatin to Central Link, Ma Chai Hang Ventilation Building

Hong Kong MTR, Shatin to Central Link, Hung Hom Station

Hong Kong MTR, Shatin to Central Link, Hin Keng Station

Hong Kong MTR, Po Lam Station Podium

Hong Kong MTR, Pat Heung Container

MTR Sai Ying Pun Station (Queen’s Road West Exit A)

Hong Kong MTR, Sai Ying Pun Station (Market Exit B1/B2)Hong Kong MTR, Sai Ying Pun Station (Bonham Road Exit C)

Hong Kong MTR, University Station (Uni Tower Exit A)

Hong Kong MTR, University Station (Hill Road Exit B2)

Hong Kong MTR, University Station (Exit C1 )Hong Kong MTR, University Station (Pok Fu Lam Plant Building)

Hong Kong MTR, Fo Tan Railway House (Renovation Project)

Hong Kong Water Supplies Department (West Kowloon Pumping Station)

Hong Kong MTR, Kennedy Town Station

West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Project OfficeHong Kong Water Supplies Department (Shatin Seafront)

Hong Kong Water Supplies Department (Tai Po Tau Screen House)

Hong Kong Water Supplies Department (Tai Shui Hang Lowland Raw Water Pumping Station)

Hong Chi Winifred Mary Cheung Morninghope School Sensory Garden

Hong Kong MTR, Fo Tan Railway House

Birkdale International Limited Pilot Project (Sheung Sui, Hong Kong)

Hong Kong Cricket Club

Shouson Hill Private ResidenceVictoria Shanghai Academy, Hong Kong
“On Thursday 25 June 2015, Mr Sean Johnstone from Kawada came to our school to assist Y7
students in installing a Midori-chan™ rooftop garden on the 5th floor. The system is eco-friendly andsimple to install. Students had a great time putting it in place and will now monitor its progress overthe next 12 months through their science work.
Thank you, Kawada!”“Site’s ready, let’s go!”“So easy to install”“Soil in”

“Our first planting”“In class designing follow-up
experiments”“After two months”“Installing Kawada’s Midori-chan™ was a wonderful experience as its environmentally friendly system is irrefutablytransforming our school into a greener place.” – Chantelle, Lydianne, Alyn and Charmain.
“Kawada has really good experience in building eco-friendly structures, and it is hoped that this can continue and will
spread across the world, promoting this type of system.” – Monique and GiselePricing Made Easy
Simply provide the following information, and we can get back to you quickly with a quote:
CAD drawings of the rooftop layout
Details of site access for material and equipment
Rooftop load-bearing details
Plant species desired (our engineers can also provide recommendations after surveying the siteand assessing location conditions)
Details of the supply and installation schedule

For more information about the Midori-chan™ greening system, please visit:
http://global.kawada.jp/environmental/index.html
If you wish to see a completed Midori-chan™ project in Hong Kong, please get in touch. We canarrange for you to visit our MTRC Sheung Shui trial, which we worked on with our exclusive partner,
Birkdale International Limited, a globally recognised, leading landscape contractor.
Find out more about Birkdale International Limited at:
http://www.birkdaleinternational.com

TM11/F., The Broadway,
54-62 Lockhart Rd., Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: (+852) 2185-6648 Fax: (+852) 2185-6418
Email: sean.johnstone@kawada.co.jp
www.global.kawada.jp

TM