Façade greening can create visible areas of vegetation on buildings and, under suitable conditions, deliver a range of effects on buildings and their immediate surroundings. The effect achieved depends, among other factors, on the system design, plant selection, location, orientation, maintenance and water supply.
The following points describe possible effects of façade greening in general terms. They cannot automatically be applied to every system, every building or every location.
Green façades can influence wall surface temperature in summer. Shading and plant cover can help reduce solar radiation on the building envelope. The effect depends, among other factors, on plant species, season, planting density, orientation and system design.
Plants release water into their surroundings. Through evaporation, façade greening can, under suitable conditions, help cool the immediate environment and influence relative humidity. The effect depends in particular on water availability, plant species, planting density, system design, weather conditions and location. In this way, façade greening can contribute to a more pleasant microclimate, particularly on hot summer days.
Certain plants can capture particulate matter on their foliage, helping to reduce particulate concentrations in the immediate surroundings. Studies report reductions of particulate matter below 10 µm of approximately 42 to 60% for selected façade greening systems. The effect depends, among other factors, on plant species, planting density, location and weather conditions.
Façade greening can, under suitable conditions, help reduce summer cooling demand. Whether and to what extent building operation is affected depends, among other factors, on system type, orientation, leaf coverage, irrigation, building standard and usage. No general conclusion can be drawn from this regarding an overall reduction in energy consumption.
Façade greening can reduce sound reflection from hard façade surfaces. Depending on system design, planting density, substrate layer and other construction components, various elements of the greening system can contribute to sound absorption.
Suitable façade greening can provide animals with food, shelter and habitats. The extent to which this is achieved depends, among other factors, on plant selection, flowering and fruiting potential, system design, location and maintenance. Green façades can also shape the appearance of buildings and streetscapes, contributing to a more positive perception of urban spaces.
Technical basis and sources
The following technical information comprises selected secondary sources and literature compilations. The results presented relate to specific plants, system designs, locations, time periods and measurement methods. They therefore do not constitute proof of effect for any particular Vertiko system or specific construction project.