Singapore’s first public buses with green rooftop gardens are now cruising along the island’s roads. In an initiative called “Garden on the Move” that was launched yesterday, this move is also billed as the first of its kind in Asia. Nine of such buses from SBS Transit, plus a Lakeside shuttle service, will hit the roads for at least three months, with routes that go through areas like Orchard Road and the Central Business District.

The fares remain the same, as the campaign aims to examine possible energy and cost savings for bus operators by studying the temperature inside the buses. These include services 139, 145, 13, 39, and 45.

Kitted out with a soilless roof system, the initiative is funded by the Temasek Foundation, with support from the National Parks Board, Moove Media, and the Singapore Green Building Council. Two patches of greenery were installed on each bus, each one measuring 1.8m by 1.05m and weighing 40kg, The Straits Times said.

Without the reliance on soil, the green roof system will be easier to maintain and more economical. The study will focus on whether the green roof results in a lower temperature in the bus interiors, which could lead to lesser fuel used for air-conditioning.

This article, Buses with green rooftop gardens are now on the roads of Singapore, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!