GREEN WALL

A green wall is a wall partially or completely covered with vegetation that includes a growing
medium, such as soil. Most green walls also feature an integrated water delivery system. Green walls
are also known as living walls, BIOboards, biowalls, ecowalls, or vertical gardens.
Such walls may be indoors or outside, freestanding or attached to an existing wall, and come in a
great variety of sizes. As of 2012, the largest green wall covers 2,700 square meters (29,063 square
feet or more than half an acre) and is located at the Los Cabos International Convention Center.
Green walls have seen a recent surge in popularity. Of the 61 large-scale outdoor green walls listed
in an online database provided by greenroof.com, 80% were constructed in or after 2009 and 93%
dated from no later than 2007.
What is a greenwall?
Greenwalls are soil-less vertical gardens grown on the surface of built structures. They are designed
to mimic the growing conditions found where greenwalls occur in nature. Plants on a greenwall or
greenroof live without soil using many adapted strategies to survive, poor nutrition, exposed
conditions and seasonal drought. They colonise only those rocks and trees that provide adequate
growing conditions: aspect, light, air movement, water and nutrients.
Where Greenwalls Work
Greenwalls first made their appearance in zoological exhibits, but they're adaptable to almost any
vertical surface. Whether a greenwall is inside or outside, it adds remarkable visual value to the area,
making any visitor take note. They're dramatic, attractive, and distinctive visual statements that
send a message saying you care about the environment both inside and outside of your building.
The single biggest factor when it comes to the success of a greenwall is having properly designed
systems to maintain it. When designing a greenwall, we look to successful commercial applications
and to nature for the basic design of vertical planting systems. (Nature has been producing
spectacular vertical landscapes for thousands of years.)

Design Considerations
There are several important design and structural differences between ground-level garden design
and vertical garden design. Here are a few special construction requirements and considerations
when developing the vertical garden/greenwall:
Protection of the structural support system's integrity, and waterproofing protection of that system.
Positive drainage throughout the system so that plantings at the bottom will have optimal growing
conditions without becoming oversaturated.
A long-term, lightweight planting medium that isn't subject to deterioration through decomposition
(normally, this is a synthetic product).
Irrigation and fertilization for optimum plant growth and sustainability.
Adaptation of the plantings to the environmental conditions.
BENEFITS OF GREEN WALLS
Green walls have been a feature of buildings for many centuries, although the traditional ivy
covered faades of Victorian homes have been replaced by modern, purposebuilt systems,
delivering a wide range of benefits.
Improved aesthetics Well designed and maintained Green Walls significantly enhance a
buildings appearance
whether its to add a new aesthetic dimension, disguise a car park, refresh a tired faade or
add colour and texture to a wall.
Temperature regulation -Green Walls used on appropriate elevations can reduce energy costs
by providing an additional layerof insulation in the winter (keeping heat in) andacting as a screen to
the sun in the summer(keeping the building cool).
Protecting faades-Green wall systems can help to protect the faadeof a building, extending its
life by acting as an effective shield to weather and helping to protect itfrom damaging UV light.
Wildlife habitats-With a strong base from the trellis and appropriateplanting, green walls can
provide an ideal habitatfor new wildlife and for wildlife displaced during construction. Ifrequired,
we can provide new habitats for birds, bugs and bees.
Cleaner air-Green Walls in urban areas can helpimprove local air quality by absorbing carbon
dioxide, releasingoxygen and trapping dust and otherpollutants.
Deter graffiti-If graffiti is a potential problem, green walls can be an effective deterrent, making
the application of graffiti to the building structure almost impossible.
Noise reduction-By adding a layer of insulation (thermal and acoustic) greenwalls absorb sound,
making a positive impact for the buildings occupants and the local environment.
EDUCATION BENEFITS-With ground level planting, Jakob Green Wallsystems provide interesting
educational opportunities when installed in schools. Pupils have been involved in selecting,
planting and lookingafter different climbing plants, taking an active interest inthe development of
their own Green Wall.
Benefits of an indoor living wall:Plants act as air purifiers, improving your homes air quality
by increasing oxygen levels and humidity and filtering out toxins.
Benefits of an outdoor green faade or living wall:Provides sound insulation
Plants act as shading devices, thereby helping to regulate the internal temperature of the house.
Absorbs a significant amount of rainfall and therefore provides storm water management.
Can mitigate the Heat Island Effect and help cool the citys overall temperature.
Can be a natural habitat for animals and insects.
How living walls can improve indoor air quality:-
Pollutants exist all around us, both outdoors and indoors. Toxic fumes infiltrate the air we breathe
through our air systems and ductwork and can cause what we commonly call Sick Building
Syndrome. Green, or living walls, can significantly clear up the toxins. While all plants absorb
pollutants, there are certain plants that do so with much more efficiency. While even one plant can
remove toxins from your home or building, the more plants that are added, the more toxins are
absorbed.
A green wall can contain as many as thousands of plants. These living walls can help to remove
formaldehyde, VOCs, Carbon Monoxide and many other harmful pollutants. NASA (The National
Aeronautic and Space Administration) has identified the 15 best plants for living wall.
How green walls can protect your home or building:-
Outdoor living walls offer your building protection by acting as a climate control. The plantings
prevent dramatic temperature fluctuations which then prevents the building from corrosion that
results from expanding and contracting which occurs during extreme temperatures. These plants act
as a natural insulation, keeping air inside the buildings cooler in the summer months and warmer
during the winter months. The manner in which these vertical gardens are constructed allows the
building to breathe, shields the walls from precipitation, wind, harmful UV rays and corrosive rain.
Living walls and green roofs help to provide a natural environment for birds, butterflies and bees.
How vertical gardens save energy:-
Simply put, the plants on the buildings exterior keep the building protected by the heat of the sun,
therefore keeping the building itself cooler meaning less energy is utilized when cooling the building.
Interior green walls also greatly help to reduce energy by helping to keep the interior cool. With
each additional plant, energy consumption is reduced, therefore a room with hundreds of plants can
see a temperature reduction of as much as 7 degrees celsius or 44 degrees fahrenheit. This is indeed
significant! Conversely, during the cold winter months these green walls have the opposite effect
and act as insulation from the bitter temperatures. The additional layer prevents heat from escaping
thus dramatically lowering your gas or heating oil consumption.
The health benefits of living walls:-
Plants offer instant stress relief by softening the environment around us. They reduce noise and
eliminate pollution. Gardens have an instant calming effect. In workplaces plants have been shown
to increase productivity, in the home they increase tranquility. They ease stress and fatigue, and
offer energy rich oxygen. Gardens are strategically placed in hospitals to for their calming benefits
which can lead to a patients shortened stay. Try doubling the health benefits by building an edible
living wall in your kitchen. Not only will these greens relax you and purify the air you breathe, but
edible plants such as herbs and lettuces have their own health benefits.