Green Buildings and Vertical Gardening: A Step Into the Future

The unfortunate truth is that modern life runs on fossil fuels. Society would not be the same without them because the world relies on them in so many ways. Their necessity in infrastructure is one of the reasons why cities account for over 70% of global carbon dioxide emissions. While changing energy sources for the majority of materials and transportation is a daunting and complex task that still needs to be addressed, there are a variety of solutions to lessen the current damage, including the development of sustainable green buildings.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 40% of energy use and 75% of electricity consumption in our nation, so it is imperative that environmentally responsible measures of infrastructure are incorporated. Green buildings are structures that use resource- efficient and environmentally- friendly processes during the entirety of the building’s life cycle—meaning during its design, construction, renovation, and deconstruction. Low carbon and renewable technologies are incorporated to support the energy needs, including efficiency of water, electricity, and other resources. The sustainability and efficiency of green buildings decrease their greenhouse gas emissions and can have a positive impact in cities.

Some green buildings include a unique feature: a vertical greenery system. This means plants are grown up, on, or against external or internal walls of the building. Many designs incorporate planter boxes on its exterior and a trellis structure on the external walls to provide a framework for plants to climb. However, other buildings have their plants on the roof of the building using a terrace system. In order for the plants to survive, architects and other designers have to assess factors such as sunlight exposure, ventilation, and the region's climate in the location during the planning process. They must also take into consideration the types of plants that thrive in the location as well as energy efficient materials and resources. Maintenance is another key aspect of the design which includes an irrigation system, gardeners, or other technologies to support the plants’ needs. Other designs utilize lichen moss which requires less upkeep.

Below are a few examples of buildings with vertical greenery systems:

However, there are some obstacles to this vertical gardening and sustainable infrastructure. Construction can be expensive and require extensive planning. Designers also must take into consideration irrigation systems and how to take care of the greenery. Maintenance of the gardening system is crucial in order to continue to have healthy plants which requires a significant amount of water. In areas with water shortages, some designs may be limited. Finally, some vertical greenery building systems found that the plants attract mosquitoes and other pests which would be a problem for the residents or occupants of the buildings.

Despite the challenges, many knowledgeable individuals believe that green infrastructure and vertical greenery systems are the step into the future that society needs. Green architect Stefano Boeri explains how his focus with architecture is “connecting people with nature, urban environment, with the natural one…Forests need our help to take better care of them and we need trees to take better care of us.” Another person named Michael Wilkins who is an environmental climate risk researcher explains that green infrastructure “mitigates the production of GHG emissions and also provides resilience against the effect of global warming…[while bringing] communities and economics together to…tackle climate change.” These are a few of many people who support the newer topic of green infrastructure. They feel that the world must improve their buildings before it is too late.

After learning about green infrastructure and vertical gardening systems, what are your thoughts on the topic? Do you think they could help us create a more sustainable future?