Who doesn’t love a beautiful garden? It’s well documented that green spaces can contribute a lot to our health and wellbeing.
Studies by Texas A&M University, for example, show that plants and green environments can help improve mood and promote happiness, and even accelerate healing.
Green facades or green walls have the capacity to provide the same benefits as gardens within a built environment. Here are just some of the health and wellbeing benefits of green infrastructure.
Cleaner and healthier air
Green infrastructure can contribute to improved air quality by filtering out volatile organic compounds and pollutants generated by vehicles and industry. Greenery also helps purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and suppressing dust particles.
Cleaner air benefits everyone, but may be particularly good for people prone to respiratory problems such as asthma or allergies.
The cooling effect
Green walls or facades provide shade, which can reduce internal heat build-up and keep buildings cooler and more comfortable to live or work in. It can also potentially save on mechanical cooling costs during summer.
Built-up areas are also prone to the ‘urban heat island effect’. Green infrastructure can help to mitigate this through a proven ability to reduce local temperatures by several degrees.
Mental health benefits
There are studies that indicate people who spend time in green spaces have a more positive outlook and better overall mental health. Green facades can contribute to a higher perceived quality of life and lower levels of anxiety and depression.
Office workers can benefit too. Plants in office environments have been shown to have a positive effect on concentration, mood, creativity and productivity.
Noise reduction
Excessive noise in a building can be stressful and affect our wellbeing. Using green walls or facades along with other measures can contribute to noise absorption and reduction.
At Tensile, we specialise in creating green facades that not only beautify buildings but contribute to cleaner air and happier occupants. Get in touch with us if you have a project in mind for your building.
