What are Living Walls?
They consist of a series of self-contained troughs that allow plants to grow up a framework attached to the wall of a building. The troughs, of a standard size, are interlinked and have a watering system that flows through them to facilitate both feeding and watering when necessary. The plants will be primarily climbers and will be provided in an established state. The maximum growing height for the mature plants is considered to be 3 stories of a building. Other options are available for taller buildings.
What are the benefits of Living Walls?
Simplicity – ease of fabrication, installation and maintenance. Above all the initial concept and the point of difference with current products should be easy to communicate. Thus reducing costs and overcoming client concerns
Sustainability – use of recycled products, attenuation (and storage) of rainwater runoff. Aligning to the CSR policies of larger organisations and providing them with CO2 savings and offsets
Environmental - Vegetation adjacent to buildings is proven to reduce year round energy consumption; 40% of UK energy is consumed in buildings and the built environment. The green wall provides insulation in winter (even more so with the insulated back panel), for example, circa £134 annual saving on the average family home gas heating bill. Extrapolated to the built environment UK energy consumption would reduce and individual company costs could be reduced.
Could energy really be saved in winter using Living Walls?
In winter, vegetated masonry is known to be significantly warmer. It is widely acknowledged that vegetation can provide winter energy savings through reduction in wind chill, wind break, and draught surrounding doors/windows; also through trapping warmed air against a building. Living Walls create dead-air space, providing a barrier which reduces cold air infiltration to buildings by up to 40%. Furthermore, vegetation reduces convective heat loss, a key factor in retrospective fitting of insulation for existing housing, e.g. cavity insulation. UK research has confirmed that significant energy savings can be gained from wall planting.
Cooling - Studies reveal vegetation on or adjacent to the south facing aspect of a building can reduce or eliminate the need for air conditioning. Forced air conditioning is the fastest source of new energy demand in the UK.
Could energy therefore be saved in a UK summer using Living Walls?
A building overheats in summer principally due to solar gain and high glazing ratio. Computer modelling suggests solar gain is reduced on a south facing wall covered in Ivy by up to 37% which could negate the need for air conditioning. This is true particularly on commercial buildings with high occupancy. For example, when a London office was compared to a neighboring rural office surrounded by vegetation in a ‘typical’ hot week, it was reported that the rural office never used artificial cooling to maintain internal temperatures <24 oC (i.e. the human comfort temperature above which air conditioning tends to be used); whereas the London office needed continuous artificial cooling to maintain the same temperature.
Human health benefits – in an industrial setting there is a range of physiological and psychological benefits. Airbourne pollutants are significantly reduced by plants improving both immediate concentration and long term health of employees whilst at the same time providing an attractive and productive place of work. Research has indicated a reduction in stress levels of employees who have access to similar environments thus increasing employee productivity.
Noise Insulation - A recent study showed the wonderful impact that just a few trees planted near a building can achieve in terms of noise reduction and pollutant mitigation
Biodiversity - Additional wildlife habitats, particularly for pollinators, developing ‘Green Corridors’ between green spaces and countryside
Aesthetics - Improvement of existing expanses of wall, breaking up new elements, articulation of elevations and greening of industrial barren spaces. For new builds the green wall can play a dynamic role in the overall build design. There is also the opportunity to utilize cheaper more basic building materials that will be screened by the green wall system. The green walls can be used to overcome some Planning permissions issues.
Flexibility – ease of adding to or changing modular components, mix and match of backgrounds, colours, finishes etc. providing a truly personalized product
Amenity – feel good factor associated with plants, potential for including street furniture. Providing an outdoor space that is pleasant for everyone to use. Plant choice can also enable both fruit and herbs to be harvested by employees or for the use in local catering. A particular benefit to schools for action learning by young pupils
Words from Experts
An expert in her field, Dr. Jane Taylor explains the scientific benefits of flora Fanatica's Living Walls system. CLICK HERE
Why Choose Flora Fanatica?
Visually stunning, Flora Fanatica's Living Walls deliver all the benefits of green facades with its innovative modular, cost effective system.
Choice in materials, configuration and, of course, plants provides maximum opportunity for client individuality. New build or retro fit, Flora Fanatica's qualified Horticulturalists, Designers and Engineers will provide a solution to suit both client and building with designs that range from crisp, neat simplicity to living works of art.
A bold, stunning endorsement of your sustainability and bio diversity credentials stand alone as a statement, screening or wall covering, our innovative designs will delight you for many years.