More than 77% of HSBC Malta branch roofs have been painted white in a simple yet effective initiative to reduce energy use and to lower the bank’s carbon footprint.

White roofs minimise solar absorption on buildings, reducing the reliance on air-conditioning, which in turn reduces energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. White roofs also help by reflecting more sunshine back to space, and leading experts explain that this is crucial because of the continued reduction in polar reflective sea ice.  As ice retreats, sunshine that would have been reflected back to space by the bright ice is being absorbed by the ocean instead. This heats up then ocean, melting even more ice.

“Through this initiative, HSBC has painted over 7,100m2 of roof area brilliant white, that’s around the area of a large 11 aside football pitch. This, in a sense, replicates an important function of the white ice cover, and compensates in our small way for the loss of the natural reflective ice sheet, regaining the planet’s ability to reflect sun rays back to space,” said Ranjit Gokarn, Chief Operating Officer of HSBC.

Snow-covered sea ice reflects 85% of sunlight, while the open water reflects a mere 7%. On the other hand,  membrane covered roofs can absorb as much as 90% of the sun’s heat, while tests reveal that white roofs reflect as much as 90% of the sun’s heat and harmful radiation.

More information about HSBC Bank Malta’s corporate sustainability initiatives is available on the ‘Sustainability’ section of the bank’s website at www.hsbcmalta.com.mt