samedi 23 août 2014

The Benefits Of Living Green Wall Systems

By Deanne Shepard


Cities are suffering from noise and air pollution as well as lack of greenery. One way to deal with this problem is by utilizing living green wall systems. These are designed to beautify sterile environments and offer a host of other benefits as well. Today they are found all over the world on the exteriors and interiors of buildings, from office blocks to hotels.

These vertical gardens are unlike any other in that the plants are not rooted in the ground. Instead they are rooted inside a structure which is either attached to a wall or freestanding. Some of them are contained in pots in separate trays or boxes. Others are planted in panels and the roots are allowed to grow freely, forming a strong matrix.

These kinds of gardens are at the cutting edge of innovation. The plants are not rooted in the ground and many times soil is not used at all. Plants are able to thrive just about anywhere as long as the roots are receiving nutrients and moisture. Automatic irrigation provides this and porous, lightweight materials are often used instead of soil, making the whole structure light. A great variety of plants from perennials to ground cover are used, enabling the creation of amazing displays of color and texture.

A great benefit of such a system as that it acts like a lung. Pollutants in the air like carbon dioxide are absorbed and life-giving oxygen is released instead. This helps to keep people inside buildings healthy and increases their productivity. Plants are well known to have a calming effect and can help to reduce stress.

A vertical garden can also reduce the energy required for heating and cooling. An exterior structure reduces surface temperature resulting in a cooler interior in the summer months. In winter such a structure provides an additional layer of insulation, reducing the amount of heat escaping and cool air coming in.

Noise pollution is a big factor in urban environments. A vertical garden can make a difference as plants absorb, reflect and refract sounds. Inside an office, the vegetation helps with high frequency sounds and the supporting structure muffles low frequency noise. An exterior system helps with sound insulation against all the noises of the city like traffic sounds.

The features of a vertical garden all act together to reduce the carbon footprint of a building. This is good news in a world where environmental concerns are becoming a priority. Any company that wants to promote their green image can use such a system as a marketing tool. These oases with their abundant foliage are succeeding in bringing back biodiversity into the cities by attracting birds, bees and butterflies.

When the many benefits of vertical gardens are considered, from their aesthetic value to the way they improve the environment and help make cities more sustainable, there is no question that they will be popular for years to come. Designing and installing them does require expertise in planning, creativity in design and knowledge of plants. The initial expenses of such a project, however, are far outweighed by its long term benefits.




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