Benefits of Green or Living Walls

Benefits of Green Walls

Benefits provided by green wall installations vary depending on their location and design, though most share common benefits. For simplicity those listed below have been grouped into environmental, human and building related aspects. Some cross-over does exist and often benefits are also categorised as Public and Private, i.e. those realised by only the building owners/tenants and others shared by the wider community.

Environmental

Air purification & dust suppression

One of the biggest environmental issues currently facing the UK is the level of pollution in our cities. Green walls have the potential to address some of the problems. During the day plants extract carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and many other toxins from the air during photosynthesis, resulting in significant reductions in CO2 levels in well vegetated urban areas. Large areas of greenery can also help to suppress dust particles; improving air quality around construction sites and busy highways. This can lead to a reduction in respiratory illness. There has been much focus in London recently on reducing PM10 particles to meet EU targets and avoid a substantial financial penalty.

Increased biodiversity

By using selected plants a green wall can considerably increase the number and variety of insects and birds in a given area, helping to return a more sustainable ecosystem in urban environments.

Reduced urban heat island effect

Urbanised areas have a higher average temperature than surrounding countryside. Increasing vegetation in city hot spots, or urban canyons, provides cooling of trapped air and reduces reflected heat. Tests have shown temperature differences of up to 17 degrees C between hard and vegetated surfaces in the same location.

Storm water mitigation & rainwater harvesting

Increasing the coverage of vegetation can reduce the amount of storm water management required for a building. This is especially useful in older urban areas where excess storm water is combined with wastewater systems. More advanced solutions can harvest excess rainwater for green wall irrigation, eliminating the need for a fresh water supply.

Building

Passive thermal performance

Coverage of vegetation over a building can dramatically reduce the need for additional cooling in summer. The vegetation also works as a blanket to reduce heat loss from a building in winter. These reductions lower the requirement for heating and air conditioning demands in a building. Studies have shown considerable energy savings.

Building protection

Green walls help reduce UV damage to surfaces and can protect a building from wind, weather and temperature fluctuations, prolonging the life of the structure. These factors could, in fact, offset maintenance costs of green walls. In addition, many green wall systems have solid back panels that maintain rigidity, waterproofing and security; these can be used as cladding on buildings in place of traditional materials, thus offsetting the capital cost of an installation.

Green credentials

Green walls are visual indicators of sustainable design and can be a means of qualifying for additional eco-credits for sustainability assessment schemes and may help with planning applications.

Human

Aesthetics

Vegetated surfaces are generally considered aesthetically pleasing; they can provide a visual impact and focus for onlookers or can be used to obscure unsightly structures and spaces.

Health and wellbeing

Plants and greenery can provide uplifting and calming effects on people whilst having a positive impact on stress-related illnesses. Studies have shown that simply having a view of greenery increases workplace productivity and patient recovery rates in hospitals.

Noise reduction

Planted surfaces have low noise reflectivity and high absorption properties. Ambient noise is attenuated by green wall systems, improving conditions for building occupants and pedestrians.

Food production

The introduction of vertical gardening techniques significantly increases available space for growing food in urban environments.

Behavioural improvements

Studies have shown a correlation between highly vegetated urban environments and a reduction of crime in the area, in particular reduced violent conduct.