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One possible solution that mitigates the effects of climate change is the implementation of vertical greenery systems, which have the potential to reduce the need for cooling and provide energy savings for heating. This paper evaluates the effects of an innovative modular green wall on indoor temperature and energy use in a residential case study building. This research was carried out on a residential house in the city of Ghent, Belgium, whose southwest facade is covered with a specific type of modular green wall (a structure with a specific substrate and plants that have the ability to purify water so that it can be reused in the house). The monitoring process included four different temperatures (in front of and behind the green wall, in the substrate, and on the wall without greenery) during winter and summer periods. To analyze the effect on the internal temperature and energy use, a DesignBuilder simulation model was built and validated against these experimental results. This green wall has proven to have the greatest effect during the hottest summer days by reducing the indoor temperature by up to 3.5 °C. It also effectively increases the indoor temperature by up to 1.4 °C on a cold winter day, leading to energy savings of 6% on an annual basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One possible solution that mitigates the effects of climate change is the implementation of vertical greenery systems, which have the potential to reduce the need for cooling and provide energy savings for heating. This paper evaluates the effects of an innovative modular green wall on indoor temperature and energy use in a residential case study building. This research was carried out on a residential house in the city of Ghent, Belgium, whose southwest facade is covered with a specific type of modular green wall (a structure with a specific substrate and plants that have the ability to purify water so that it can be reused in the house). The monitoring process included four different temperatures (in front of and behind the green wall, in the substrate, and on the wall without greenery) during winter and summer periods. To analyze the effect on the internal temperature and energy use, a DesignBuilder simulation model was built and validated against these experimental results. This green wall has proven to have the greatest effect during the hottest summer days by reducing the indoor temperature by up to 3.5 °C. It also effectively increases the indoor temperature by up to 1.4 °C on a cold winter day, leading to energy savings of 6% on an annual basis.

In burgeoning tropical urban areas, impermeable surfaces exacerbate urban heat stress, creating Urban Heat Islands (UHI). Mitigating this requires the adaptation of Vertical Greenery Systems (VGS) in the built environment. While studies explore VGS, few address their environmental impact in tropical contexts, where adverse weather challenges the design and management. Guided by 'Green wall,' this study categorizes literature on VGS into systems, technical properties, and tropical challenges. Scrutinizing climate, maintenance, and cost as barriers, the study aims to identify factors influencing successful VGS deployment in the tropics. Objectives include exploring typologies, designs, performances, irrigation, maintenance challenges, and climatic factors. Insights seek to offer a nuanced understanding of their efficacy across climates. Recommendations stress the need for targeted tropical research, a multidisciplinary maintenance approach, meticulous material selection, and ongoing technological adaptation for sustainable VGS in tropical urban landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate matter (PM) exposure in urban areas is a continuous threat to human health and requires sustainable solutions for effective reduction. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of façade greening and its effects on PM and to identify knowledge gaps. We systematically screened, analyzed, and re-evaluated previous reviews according to the criteria established for an umbrella review. As a result, this study covers and discusses common measurement methods, influencing factors, the effectiveness of façade greening, leaf characteristics, and plant species from different subtopics. The main findings are that inconsistent measurement methods limit the comparability of the analyzed reviews, and different climatic conditions affecting the use of plant species lead to different international effects. Despite the existing studies reporting a positive effect on the reduction of PM, comparability is difficult due to methodological differences and external influences. Given the complexity, interdisciplinary collaboration with experts is essential to increase the effectiveness of façade greening for PM accumulation for healthy urban air. We suggest that this umbrella review provides a foundation for future research and practical implementations, such as a suitable plant selection or façade design, by integrating the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living walls (LWs) are a climate change adaptation strategy for cities, as they have a cooling effect. Previous studies of the cooling effect of LWs were carried out in different climatic zones. These studies differed in their experimental design, or simulated data via models. Plants' cooling capacity is explained by shading and transpiration, and depends on physical plant parameters, environmental factors, and system-related influences. A three-year-long trial was carried out between 2017 and 2019 at an experimental garden in Geisenheim, Germany. We chose a textile-based LW system with high water demand and plants from a wet/fresh habitat. We assumed that this would achieve high evaporative cooling. The experimental setup included four experimental walls, which were exposed to the north, south, east, and west, respectively. The plant choice was divided into three plant mix variants (Cascade, Ground cover, and Meadow) and a Control with no vegetation. We measured the temperature with sensors and a thermal imaging (IR) camera in different setups. The main results were that the measured vegetation temperature (TV) depends on air temperature (TA), measurement position, plant mix variant, and plant species. We could detect the cooling effect only at a small distance from the LW (microclimatic). Our methodological approaches should be continued in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buildings consume a significant part of the world's resources and energy. The growing environmental awareness and urgent need to reduce energy consumption have highlighted the importance of introducing innovative solutions as nature-based systems in new buildings' construction and retrofitting. In this regard, green façades that integrate vegetation into building envelopes are attractive. This paper presents a bibliographic analysis, based on science mapping, of the available literature on green façades from 1999–2022 with a focus on the thermal effect on the building and on the surroundings. The objective of this study is to reveal the structure and the evolution of the research activity in the field, outlining the main research topics and the future research directions. The analysis was performed on a dataset of 270 documents. The results indicate a growing interest in this topic over the last six years and the multidisciplinary dimension of the studies. The keyword cluster analysis indicates the emergence of three main search topics: thermal behavior and energy modeling; urban design and large-scale effects; sustainable buildings management. A greater future dissemination of green façades could be enabled by further research results based on the application of a multidisciplinary approach and of standardized methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical greening systems (VGSs) represent an emerging technology within the field of building-integrated horticulture that have been used to help counteract the global issues of urbanisation and climate change. Research and development within the field of building-integrated horticulture, despite being in the infancy stage, is steadily progressing, highlighting a broad range of achievable social, environmental, and economic benefits this sustainable development technology could provide. However, as VGS technology is relatively new, an array of different designs and technologies have been categorized collectively as VGSs, each having various performances towards the proposed and desired benefits. The purpose of this paper is to review existing VGS technologies and analyse the impact of implementation on sustainable development, and subsequently to propose a new VGS design that theoretically achieves the best possible outcomes when aiming to obtain the maximum benefits of installing a VGS. The resultant design creates new opportunities for VGS environmental amenities and maintenance, increases the scope of applications, and improves the environmental performance of the host building. The proposed design has the potential to transform VGSs beyond conventional functions of aesthetic greening to create novel ecosystems, which enhances the formation of habitats for a more diverse range of flora and fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green spaces have become the most threatened by urban growth, and the decline in these areas is a main cause of environmental and social problems with implications for human health and well-being. Vertical greenery systems have been proposed as a solution to restore the connection between the city and nature, particularly in compact and dense cities, where horizontal space is limited. This paper provides a literature review to examine the influence of outdoor and indoor vertical greenery systems on human health and well-being. The Web of Science and Scopus databases were chosen to survey peer-reviewed documents published until October 2022. A total of 73 documents were selected by the search. Over 71% of the documents were published over the last four years, and most of them focused on the environmental and thermal benefits of vertical greenery systems. Although these benefits could bring health and well-being outcomes, they were not objectively measured and quantified. Other additional gaps and guidelines for future research were also identified and discussed. This review could be helpful for researchers and urban planners in developing vertical greenery to create healthy and more sustainable cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) caused by building densification greatly impacts the sustainability of urban residents and the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize the envelope space of buildings for green retrofitting so that they can contribute to mitigating the UHI effect. In particular, green retrofitting of existing and historic buildings has become an effective means to improve the resilience of cities in the modernization process. In this study, Vertical Greenery Systems (VGS) were proposed for traditional commercial and residential buildings in Guangzhou, China. Digital Twin (DT) technology was applied to simulate the VGS construction method and irrigation to visualize the process of VGS construction for old commercial and residential buildings. In addition, the building heat and cooling consumption of the three-dimensional greening of the storage room on the ground floor of the arcade-housing and the living room on the top floor were analyzed according to the thermal parameters of different vertical greening types and different material facades. Finally, the modification of the west and south walls as a greening system was identified as the best energy-saving solution, and this finding provided reasonable theoretical support for the energy-saving design of the three-dimensional greening building of the arched house on South Street, a historic building with a combination of commercial and residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive research has emphasized indoor/outdoor thermal environments of building-scale vertical greenery systems (VGSs), yet comprehensive assessments of effects of street-scale VGSs on urban microclimates are scarce, with the relationship between greenery coverage ratios (GCRs) and cooling effects remaining unclear. This study determined the influence of VGSs on microclimate parameters in street canyons under different GCRs in a humid subtropical climate through scaled outdoor experiments. Key parameters included wind velocity (U 0.25H), net radiation (Rn), urban canyon albedo (UCA), temperatures across various surfaces, namely west-facing walls (T w-west), east-facing walls (T w-east), and ground (T g), as well as air temperatures (T a). Compared with the reference street canyon without VGSs, those with GCRs of 25%, 50%, and 100% experienced reductions in U 0.25H by 10%, 20%, and 22%, respectively. Increased GCR was associated with higher Rn trapping and decreased UCA. Additionally, the reductions of T w-west , T w-east , and T a increased with decreasing street canyon height. Higher GCRs tended to provide greater temperature reductions, longer cooling durations, and lower daily temperature range in street canyons. The reductions of T w-east , T a , and the central T g within street canyons exhibited higher values with increasing GCR, reaching maximum reduction values of 15.7, 2.5, and 5.1 °C for a 100% GCR, respectively. Notably, the reduction of T w-west in the lower level and of T g adjacent to the west-facing wall of street canyon with a 50% GCR reached maximum values of 15.1 and 10.2 °C, respectively, exceeding the data with 25% and 100% GCRs. [Display omitted] • Wind velocity decreased in streets with 25–100 % greenery coverage ratios (GCRs). • Streets with higher GCRs exhibited increased net radiation and decreased albedo. • West-facing wall and adjacent ground in street with a 50 % GCR showed maximum cooling. • Temperature reductions of canyon ground and air were greater with increasing GCRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation and experimental investigation of the indirect green façade (IGF) impact on thermal behaviour of buildings is presented in the paper. The study was conducted in Punat, Krk, Croatia, in the summer of 2018. The IGF reduced the incident solar radiation by up to 505 W/m2 and façade temperatures by up to 13.5 K. Experimental results were used to simulate the indoor thermal comfort of a simple building model. When IGF was positioned across the entire sun-exposed wall, an average decrease of operative temperature was up to 6 K for a new house and up to 5 K for a traditional stone house.

Nature-based solutions applied to the building skin, such as green roofs and vertical greenery systems, are standing out as the most promising by contributing with thermal improvements at building scale. From previous research done by GREiA research group at the University of Lleida (Spain), energy savings up to 58% were obtained by implementing vertical greenery systems on external building walls for cooling purposes. However, since there exist other passive and active energy saving technologies in the literature review that were limited their cooling and heating capacity after implementing internal heat loads, new experimental tests for two different vertical greenery systems simulating the heat loads in both, summer and winter were conducted in this research. Additionally, these experiments also improve the scarce and controversial literature for winter conditions. The results demonstrated that considering internal loads in experimental investigations is crucial for the results of the effectiveness of the green walls and green facades. The energy savings of VGS were reduced between 22.5% and 26.7% because of the internal loads for cooling purposes, and increased about 3.6% and 3.1% for heating. • Seasonal energy analysis of two vertical greenery systems implemented in buildings. • Experimental study of VGS considering internal heat loads generated by occupancy. • The thermal performance of VGS decreased due to internal heat loads. • During cooling periods there is still large energy saving potential by VGS. • VGS provide high thermal stability in summer but also in winter periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mathematical model that governs unsteady coupled moisture and heat energy transport through an exterior wall covered with vegetation is described. The unknown temperature and moisture content of the plants and canopy air are represented by a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The transport of moisture and heat through the support structure, which includes insulation and soil layers, is defined in a series of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs). After setting out the model, this article presents and discusses a set of numerical applications. First, a simplified system consisting of a brick wall covered with climbing vegetation is used to study the role of individual variables (e.g., wind speed, minimum stomatal internal leaf resistance, leaf area index, and short-wave extinction coefficient) on the hygrothermal behaviour of the green wall. Thereafter, more complex green wall systems comprising a bare concrete wall, mortar, cork-based insulation (ICB), soil and vegetation are used to evaluate the influence of the thermal insulation and substrate layers on the heat flux distribution over time at the interior surface of the wall, and on the evolution of the relative humidity, water content, and temperature throughout the cross section of the green wall. The numerical experiments proved that vegetation can effectively reduce exterior facade surface temperatures, heat flux through the building envelope and daily temperature fluctuations.

Urban green infrastructure improves the urban environment and enriches the lives of urban dwellers by positively affecting ambient temperatures, noise levels, and air quality, and creating an environment that promotes human health. Green technologies are increasingly used to increase green patches in urban areas. In this review of 108 vertical greenery publications, the potential physical and non-physical contributions of a subset of green infrastructure—vertical greenery systems—are presented. Most studies focus on how greenery improves the thermal performance of individual buildings and the potential energy savings, but non-physical benefits, such as health and well-being, have received little attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has shown the environmental benefits of green envelopes, as well as performance in terms of energy efficiency. To date, there is no analysis of the economic sustainability of these systems, which has allowed the realization of a few, albeit very well known, examples. The research has identified a green modular system integrated into the building envelope, designed to facilitate installation and maintenance, with competitive performance compared to other existing solutions; a system that wants to improve performance and flexibility of vertical applications, experimented on buildings, on the market, and able to adapt, above all, to the needs of the building process. It is important to distinguish architectural aesthetic requirements from those of the building process; the former aim to have an authentic vertical garden, with different kinds of plants where nature dictates the rules, the latter aims to achieve the economic sustainability of vertical greenery systems. This paper provides an analysis of a technique based on the installation of plant bearing modular panels with turf on substructures also provided with a microirrigation system, which allows the construction of a modular coating, characterized by reduced thickness, that can also be integrated with other materials; installation is quick and simple, since the panel comes perfectly planted on site. In addition to that it allows, from a botanical point of view, resorting to types of grass selected with a view to climate, exposure, environmental adaptability, color and shape. A comparative analysis of this green façade is also presented compared to other existing case studies, from a constructive and managerial point of view, highlighting both its economic and architectural advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the introduction of vertical greenery systems (VGSs) in Singapore, building designers have experimented with different VGS designs and types to apply to high-rise building facades. Although innovative designs have brought variety to the utilitarian high-rise facades clad in glass, steel and concrete, little consideration has been given to the issues of maintainability during the design/planning stage. This lack of foresight and planning has hindered the efforts of maintenance personnel and compromised the performance of such green facades. To address these concerns, an instrumental case study approach was undertaken using a series of site investigations and interviews with experts and stakeholders. The aim of this research was to strengthen the knowledge base on high-rise vertical greenery facades in the tropics, leading to the formulation of case study-based ‘design for maintainability’ (DfM) guidelines. These guidelines will assist clients, designers and contractors by providing a supplemental reference during the design, installation and maintenance of high-rise VGSs located in tropical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A vertical greenery system was modeled as a homogeneous layer. • An inverse thermal modeling algorithm, using genetic algorithms, was developed. • Apparent thermo-physical properties were determined for the homogeneous layer. • Apparent properties are developed as a function of sol-air temperature. • The thermal response of vertical greenery system can be modelled using the heat diffusion equation. Abstract Green façades or vertical greenery systems (VGSs) are continuously gaining attention among urbanists for improving the living comfort and energy efficiency in urban areas. However, modeling and simulating the thermal response of VGSs remains a research topic. This paper introduces a novel inverse modeling approach for modeling the thermal response of VGSs on building envelopes. The modeling approach considers the VGSs as a homogeneous layer with apparent thermo-physical properties. The approach optimizes the apparent thermo-physical properties by calibrating the inverse model using data generated by a detailed thermal response model of VGS or experimental data. It is shown that the predicted temperature of VGS deviates by less than ±1.3 °C, while the heat flux on the inner side of the building envelope deviates by less than ±0.3 W/m2 compared to the measured values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical greenery systems (VGSs) have been proven to greatly improve the urban thermal environment. However, their effect on the retention of airborne particulate matter (PM) in the road environment remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the quantity of size-segregated PMs on both the upper (adaxial) and lower (abaxial) leaf surfaces, the mass of size-segregated PMs on the leaf surface and within the leaf wax, as well as the elemental composition of PMs retained in leaf stomata of four plant species in VGSs in Guangzhou. The findings revealed that VGSs exhibited greater retention of fine (<2.5 μm) PMs when compared to coarse (2.5–10 μm) and large (>10 μm) PMs. Among the four species studied, Tradescantia spathacea exhibited the highest PM retention in VGSs. The number density of accumulated PMs on the upper and lower leaf surfaces of the four plant species of VGSs at three heights varied significantly with species, heights, and their interaction (P < 0.05). The greatest stomatal block rate by PM occurred at a height of 0.6 m, the range was 91.1%–98.0%. The composition of PMs retained by the leaves primarily consisted of common element of C, O, Ca, K, Mg, and Si, which likely originated from natural sources. Heavy metals (HMs) such as Cr and Cd may have originated from brakes, while Zn and Cu might be attributed to tire wear and exhaust emissions. Therefore, VGSs effectively retained a substantial quantity of airborne PM and contributed to the mitigation of urban air pollution issues. • VGSs exhibited greater retention of fine PMs when compared to coarse and large PMs. • Tradescantia spathacea exhibited the highest PM retention in VGSs. • The highest stomatal block rate by PM occurred at 0.6 m, the range was 91.1%–98.0%. • PM-bound metals were partitioned from traffic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical greenery systems (VGS) are effective at solving urban heat. They can absorb noise pollution and dust, and, aesthetically, they are positively perceived. Systems using hydroponic irrigation and nutrition, in combination with mineral wool as a base, are light and effective (they are able to hold water, with a high percentage of air, and a good mechanical structure to hold the plant stable). However, the functionality of a system can be compromised if the water supply is depleted or the irrigation system fails. This deficiency can be partially remedied if a certain amount of biochar or a suitable organic fertilizer is also a part of the system. The research task consisted of verifying this assumption and determining the effective amount of the biochar. Samples with different amounts of biochar were examined under the same temperature and humidity conditions; extended drying times, additional costs, and safety tank size savings were found. Subsequently, the effective amount of the biochar was determined by the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. It has been experimentally verified that biochar has a positive effect and prolongs the drying time; the additional costs are almost offset by the benefits. It should be noted that the results are valid for central Europe, and may be modified for different climate and economic zones.

This study investigated the effects of orientation and weather on the thermal performance of testing rooms with and without vertical greenery systems (VGSs) in humid subtropical Hong Kong. The wall temperatures, ambient air temperatures and indoor air temperatures of both rooms were measured and compared. The effects of mean air temperature, solar radiation, total bright sunshine, relative humidity, mean cloud cover and wind speed on the thermal indicators of VGSs were also explored. Orientation and weather have shown significant effects on the daily maximum temperatures of the walls with and without VGSs. A north-facing VGS showed the highest capacity of reducing ambient temperature (10.1 °C), while the west-facing VGS gave the greatest wall temperature reduction (6.1 °C). The maximum temperature difference between the indoor air temperature of the two testing rooms was 3.6 °C, attributed to the VGS. Solar radiation, total bright sunshine and relative humidity showed significant correlations with the thermal performance of the rooms. Based on simulations, the VGSs could reduce the steady-state cooling load of the building envelopes by 12% to 42%, depending on their orientations. The highest reduction was found to happen when putting the VGS on the north wall. Overall, the use of VGSs in built environment could bring remarkable passive cooling benefits to both outdoor and indoor environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a comprehensive literature review of Vertical Greenery System (VGS) in tropical areas, its benefits, its carbon sequestration potential and its calculation methodologies, and its potential for urban heat island (UHI) and climate change mitigation. The contemporary VGS has evolved from the seventh-century beginnings of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to the vertical urban farms of today in Singapore and Japan. The VGS has demonstrated a significant role in mitigating urban climate change impacts by the potential use of carbon sequestration from vegetation. However, studies on carbon sequestration rate and the methodologies used for calculation are still rather vague. Therefore, this paper reviews existing methodologies for evaluating carbon sequestration rates in tropical climate plants and makes suggestions of potential plants for optimum carbon sequestering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Outdoor vertical greenery systems' (VGS) thermal aspects have been intensively studied in recent years; nevertheless, real-scale long-term experiments are scarce in the literature, and little is known about the thermal effect of VGS in street canyons. An experiment on east–west-oriented real buildings in street canyons was conducted for 31 months, analyzing the thermal performance of two VGS technologies using sensors and a thermal camera. Energy saving was assessed and an allometric model was used for carbon sequestration estimation. We present time series analyses of the diurnal and seasonal cycles of the outdoor and indoor environments with respect to bare walls street canyon. Daytime cooling in the middle of the canyon 10 m from the VGS persisted for 59.4% of the time in summer and 79.4% in a heatwave, while heating persisted for 73.9% of the day in the winter. The cooling effect was more efficient in higher temperatures and was stronger 1 m near the VGS. The surface temperature of the sunlit VGS was cooler by an average of −3.8 °C in the summer and −6.8 °C in a heatwave and was slightly warmer during the winter. The average indoor summer cooling effects were greater on the south-facing orientation (air −1.57 °C; wall −1.31 °C), while the winter warming effect was greatest on the north-facing orientation (air 2.67 °C; wall 1.6 °C). The yearly energy-saving performance due to air conditioning was 8.9%. The CO 2 sequestration potential (140 kg/year) was negligible compared to the CO 2 emissions that were saved from air conditioning (∼9 tons/year). [Display omitted] • VGS thermal effects on the micro-climate were studied in real-scale street canyons. • A correlation between maximum air temperature and mitigation time [%] was found. • The effects of wind and radiation on VGS mitigation performance are described. • Mean and maximum indoor air and wall mitigation along the seasons are reported. • Energy saving reached 8.9% and was slightly higher in summer compared to winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Vertical Greenery Systems (VGS) are getting popular in congested urban cities throughout the world. The selection of suitable plant species heavily influences the success of VGS. Plant selection principles of VGS are barely discussed in existing literature. Therefore, this paper intends to explore factors influencing selection of plants in detail. The paper discusses the plant characteristics and plant selection principles. Furthermore, EnergyPlus simulations have been performed based on a case study in Hong Kong to demonstrate the effect of different plant characteristics on energy saving. The results show that leaf area index is the most influential plant parameter in thermal performance of VGS. The study highlights the importance of selecting suitable plant species in enhancing the energy benefits of VGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last decade, vertical greenery systems are increasing their presence in building designs, providing several urban ecosystem services. One of them is the potential to provide energy savings in buildings, which develops an important role, however, data about its performance during winter periods is still scarce. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to compare at real scale the thermal performance of two different vertical greenery systems implemented in experimental houses-like cubicles for both cooling and heating periods. A double-skin green facade has been installed in the first cubicle that uses deciduous creeper plants, while the second one is designed with green walls made with evergreen species. Finally, a third identical cubicle without any green coverage is used as reference. Two different types of experiments have been carried out to test the performance of the house like-cubicles. One consists of controlling the internal ambient temperature providing heating or cooling to maintain the desired comfort conditions. On the other hand, to study the thermal response of the construction system, the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system was disconnected and the cubicles were tested under free floating condition. First results showed a high potential for energy savings during cooling season for green wall (58.9%) and double-skin green facade (33.8%) in comparison to the reference system. On the other hand, for heating periods no extra energy consumption was observed for evergreen system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to examine Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of some climber plant species to develop vertical gardens in Varanasi city which has characteristics of tall building and narrow roads. This condition results in street canyon like structure and hinders the vertical dispersal of air pollutants. We have selected 24 climber plant species which are commonly found in of Varanasi city. Chosen plants can be easily grown either in planter boxes or directly in the ground, with a vertical support they can climb on walls to form green walls or vertical garden. Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) of the selected plant species was calculated and plants with higher APTI are recommended for the development of Vertical garden. Highest APTI was noted for Ipomoea palmata (25.39) followed by Aristolochia elegans (23.28), Thunbergia grandiflora (23.14), Quisqualis indica (22.42), and Clerodendrum splendens (22.36). However, lowest APTI value (8.75) was recorded for the species Hemidesmus indicus. Moreover, the linear regression analysis has revealed a high positive correlation between APTI and ascorbic acid content ( R 2 =0.8837) and positive correlation between APTI and Chlorophyll content ( R 2 =0.6687). On the basis of higher APTI values (greater than 17), nine species of climber plants viz. I. palmata, T. grandiflora, C. splendens, A. elegans, Q. indica , Petria volubilis, Antigonon leptopus, Cryptolepis buchuanni and Tinospora cordifolia have been recommended to develop vertical greenery systems in a compact tropical city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green noise barriers have become an alternative means of reducing urban traffic noise. In this paper, the acoustic performance of a modular greenery noise barrier is evaluated. In situ measurements of noise reflection were performed using an experimental prototype to estimate the sound absorption coefficients. These coefficients were found to have values of approximately 0.7, higher than those previously found in laboratory measurements for a similar system with a lower vegetation density. The obtained values were input into software for predicting environmental noise to analyse the expected performance of such barriers, particularly in the case of a pair of parallel barriers. A comparison with the results for reflective barriers indicates a significant improvement in sound attenuation of up to 4 dBA. The values are similar and even superior to results reported by other authors regarding the effectiveness of absorptive treatments applied to parallel barriers, and furthermore, the proposed barriers offer an aesthetic element for environmental integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical Greenery Systems (VGS) are promising contemporary Green Infrastructure which contribute to the provision of several ecosystem services both at building and urban scales. Among others, the building acoustic insulation and the urban noise reduction could be considered. Traditionally vegetation has been used to acoustically insulate urban areas, especially from the traffic noise. Now, with the introduction of vegetation in buildings, through the VGS, it is necessary to provide experimental data on its operation as acoustic insulation tool in the built environment. In this study the acoustic insulation capacity of two VGS was conducted through in situ measurements according to the UNE-EN ISO 140-5 standard. From the results, it was observed that a thin layer of vegetation (20–30 cm) was able to provide an increase in the sound insulation of 1 dB for traffic noise (in both cases, Green Wall and Green Facade), and an insulation increase between 2 dB (Green Wall) and 3 dB (Green Facade) for a pink noise. In addition to the vegetation contribution to sound insulation, the influence of other factors such as the mass factor (thickness, density and composition of the substrate layer) and type of modular unit of cultivation, the impenetrability (sealing joints between modules) and structural insulation (support structure) must be taken into account for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenery on buildings is being consolidated as an interesting way to improve the quality of life in urban environments. Among the benefits that are associated with greenery systems for buildings, such as energy savings, biodiversity support, and storm-water control, there is also noise attenuation. Despite the fact that green walls are one of the most promising building greenery systems, few studies of their sound insulation potential have been conducted. In addition, there are different types of green walls; therefore, available data for this purpose are not only sparse but also scattered. To gather knowledge about the contribution of vertical greenery systems to noise reduction, especially a modular-based green wall, two different standardised laboratory tests were conducted. The main results were a weighted sound reduction index ( R w ) of 15 dB and a weighted sound absorption coefficient ( α ) of 0.40. It could be concluded that green walls have significant potential as a sound insulation tool for buildings but that some design adjustments should be performed, such as improving the efficiency of sealing the joints between the modular pieces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]