There’s a new trend in building design that is helping people reduce their environmental footprint. It’s called walls green, or plant walls, and it’s making an impact across the globe.
Walls green can help your home look more inviting, as well as improve the air quality inside. They filter indoor pollutants such as VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are found in paints, cleaning products, and pesticides.
They also reduce noise pollution. Living plants naturally block out high-frequency sounds, while the structure of the plant blocks low-frequency noise.
The World Health Organization estimates that 5.5 million premature deaths per year are linked to poor air quality in urban areas. In densely populated neighborhoods, these pollutants can get trapped in street canyons and enter the homes of nearby residents.
A green wall’s air circulation helps purify the air, as a plant wall removes pollutants from the air and filters it out through its leaves and roots. This reduces respiratory ailments and allergies.
In addition, a green wall can also help your home stay cool during the summer by reflecting sunlight. This reduces the need for air conditioning, which can be expensive in urban environments.
Besides providing aesthetic value, green walls can reduce energy costs in buildings by helping to offset the “urban heat island” effect that has made cities a few degrees warmer than rural areas.
It’s also important to note that green walls are not a substitute for insulation or window treatments. In fact, they’re designed to work in conjunction with these features to increase a building’s energy efficiency.
If you’re unsure of what type of green wall you want, you can find information on the internet to help guide your decisions. There are four main types of green walls: loose media, mat media, sheet media, and structural media.
Loose growing media is what most people think of when they hear the term “green wall.” This means a wall that uses soil to grow plants on it. It’s the easiest to make, and it’s often done by gardeners at home.
To ensure your green wall stays healthy, you’ll need to irrigate it frequently and replace the soil regularly. You can do this with simple drip irrigation or an automatic recirculation system.
Depending on your wall’s size and location, you might need to line it with plastic to prevent water damage. This is especially true for wooden structures, which can rot over time without proper protection.
The next step is to install your plants on the wall. There are a few different ways you can install your plants, including troughs, bags, and inserts. You can also use an automated planter to make installation faster and easier.
If you’re using a trough, it can be hard to keep the plants evenly distributed. This can lead to a lot of upkeep, so if you’re looking for a little more control, consider installing a planter instead.
Choosing the right plants for your walls can be difficult, as they need to be able to withstand specific weather conditions in your area. In order to avoid any issues, it’s best to consult an expert before starting the project.
