Benefits > Economic

Vertical gardens can be implement just about anywhere; however, the green building industry is among the most innovative for bringing the functional values of vertical gardens to life.  Both the US Green Building Council and Living Building Challenge exemplify the ideals of sustainable development, building, and living.  Green walls can  enhance building performance by providing a building envelope that reduces the urban heat island effect, provides sound insulation, and also functions in stormwater, wastewater, and greywater management.   Implementing a green wall in your next project can help to combat these environmental issues, while at the same time offering some economic incentives.  

Urban Heat Island Effect

The urban heat island effect is a phenomenon localized in urban settings where surface temperatures exceed standard regional temperatures because of the increase prevalence of asphalt, concrete, and  motor vehicles.  The heat is absorbed by these man-made structures and becomes trapped, creating a localized "hot spot".    Green walls can help to ameliorate this effect by providing green space that provides a buffer for solar reflectance on buildings; ultimately, reducing the amount of heat that is absorbed by the building.  The plants on the green wall also undergo a process known as transpiration which also helps in reducing these excessive temperature gradients.  The use of an exterior green wall not only reduces the temperature of the building that it is attached to but it also provides thermal control for ambient indoor temperature.  The building's decreased heat absorption results in a reduction in HVAC needs which lowers the building's cooling and heating bills. 

Sound Insulation

The presence of a green wall, in both indoor and outdoor applications, helps to absorb unwanted noise.  Whether the source is street traffic or a bustling pedestrian center, the plant material present on a green wall help to muffle noise that would have otherwise been reflected back into the space by conventional wall facades. 

Greening Incentives

In addition to US Green Building Council, many cities and municipalities are beginning to offer grants and  tax incentives for employing green products.  One such trend is urban green space expansion projects.  Some cities, such as Toronto, Seattle, Chicago, Washington D.C., and New York City are attempting to achieve a certain percentage of green space and utilize green roofs and green walls to accomplish this.