Green walls are growing in popularity in Australia and other parts of the world. This is because as well as beatifying buildings, green walls provide a range of other measurable benefits.
Here are some of the main things you need to know about installing green walls and facades on buildings.
1. There are different types of green walls
There is more than one type of green wall that can be installed on a building’s face. For example, living walls and green facades are both a type of green wall.
Living walls usually consist of panels of pre-grown plants installed across a wall face, providing a dense arrangement of greenery.
Green facades on the other hand comprise climbing plants on a support structure, such as wire rope or a mesh trellis. Stainless steel is often used for the support system, particularly on multistorey buildings where strength and longevity is important.
Green walls and facades are not just for building exteriors either. They can also be installed inside, helping provide cleaner and cooler indoor air for occupants.
2. Green walls offer a range of benefits for buildings
A green wall can be beneficial in various ways. This includes:
- Protecting the structure from rain and fluctuating temperatures, which helps it avoid the expansion and contraction that leads to cracks and deterioration. Some studies show surface temperatures on a green wall can be as much as 15 degrees lower than on a bare wall.
- Reducing energy costs by mitigating urban heat island effect and through shading the building from direct sunlight.
- Absorption of pollutants in the vicinity, which helps improve the wellbeing of building users.
Green walls may also increase a property’s value – especially if the building improves in performance and earns green certification.
3. Good design and construction is essential
For a green wall or facade to work well, it’s important that it is professionally designed, engineered, installed and maintained. This helps ensure it matches the structure and climate, and that it will last for many years to come.
Factors to consider in a site assessment include local climate, level of sunlight and wind, plant species, the effect of loads on the building and how the green infrastructure will be maintained.
Get in touch with us for a discussion or consultation on how your building structure could benefit from a green wall installation.
