What you can do to make the built environment cooler?

The Netherlands, Germany and the rest of the world are increasingly experiencing peak summer temperatures – over 40 degrees in Europe and over 50 degrees in Asia (The Guardian, 2021). Heat records are broken almost every year. What can we do with Cloud Garden to make it more pleasant in and around a building?

Heat island effect is especially noticeable in urbanized areas

Cities in particular are warming up. Due to the current urban design, citizens experience the “urban heat island effect” (Kleerekoper, 2012). Little fresh air, a warm built environment and only a few shady spots make life a daily challenge. This causes heat stress, health risks, mental health problems and respiratory and kidney diseases (WHO). That is why it is extremely important to tackle this problem quickly and bring nature back to places where it is highly urbanized.

Incorporate more greenery into urban spaces to reduce heat stress

One of the solutions to reduce the urban heat island effect is to include more greenery in urban spaces (also known as urban green infrastructure) (Zölch et al, 2017). Studies have shown that greening facades “provide cooling potential on the building surface” (Sheweka). Up to 15 degrees lower temperatures have been found on greened facades compared to bare walls (Hoelscher, 2016). Up to 10% less heat is felt around green facades, resulting in an improvement in thermal comfort for pedestrians and citizens (Zölch et al, 2017).

While the benefits of urban heat island reduction have just been highlighted, the support of local biodiversity, the purifying properties of plants and the reduced risk of flooding should not be forgotten when talking about vertical greenery (BUGG).

Green facades have great potential!

As research has shown, green facades have great potential to combat climate change. Urban planners should see it as an essential strategy in the fight against climate change. They must integrate vertical greenery into the urban built environment to reduce the risk of heat stress and improve the urban climate in summer.

Would you like to know more about the benefits of green facades? Or do you have plans to use green facades in the built environment to make the living environment more pleasant? Please contact us