Tuesday, August 19, 2014

The Advantages 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.

A garden like this consists of plants rooted within a structure that is either freestanding or attached to an existing wall. Some systems utilize boxes or trays that are filled with soil or other materials like peat or coco coir. The trays are planted up and then stacked onto a backing board. Modular movable structures can even be used in the middle of a room. Another system consists of a frame and panels in which plants are grown.

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.

One of the greatest benefits of such a system is that all plants absorb and clean pollutants from the air. A system like this can contain over a thousand plants, all of which absorb carbon dioxide from the air and filter it, releasing oxygen. This helps to improve conditions for those inside a building, helping keep employees alert. Greenery softens any environment, acting as a tonic to ease 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.

Plants have always been used as a barrier for noise reduction such as those used alongside highways. A vertical garden, particularly one containing a large number of plants, can significantly reduce noise pollution. An exterior one can absorb the noises of the city such as traffic. Noise pollution inside an office can be reduced significantly too, making a work environment more pleasant.

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.

Designing and implementing a vertical garden which is aesthetically pleasing and easy to maintain is a complex task. It requires proper planning, an excellent knowledge of plants and creativity. It can be fairly costly to implement but the cost is well worth it for the many benefits it provides.




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