Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2016 - 27

CASE STUDY:

WATER PERFORMANCE
BEST PRACTICES IN A
GREEN WALL SYSTEM
The G-O2 living wall system is a soil-based,
modular living wall system that employs many
methods in its design to minimize potable
water use. The soil media itself is a proprietary
blend that employs anti-erosion materials and
natural elements like humic acid to maximize
efficient water movement through the soil
media and make it readily available to plants. A
water-wicking fabric insert in the aluminum or
stainless steel modular panels is a second waterconservation feature that can store water in the
panel for later availability for the plants to take
up on an as-needed basis.
The design of the irrigation system of a green
wall is the real key to minimizing water use and
waste. Most green facades and many living wall
systems commonly use highly efficient drip
irrigation systems that have very low flow rates,
so they can be metered to give plants exactly the
water they need without waste. Drip irrigation
also prevents water loss through evaporation into
the air, as the water is delivered directly into the
soil media where the roots of the plant absorb
the water they need as it becomes available.
There are also a number of tools that can be
used in conjunction with these high-efficiency,
low water use drip irrigation systems to eliminate
water waste. Flow sensors can be installed to
measure the flow rates and irrigation timings so
that one can monitor and measure exactly how
much water is being used. These flow sensors are
also helpful in detecting breaks in lines or valve
malfunctions that could potentially lead to water
waste. Soil moisture sensor equipment can also
be employed when maintaining any green wall to
monitor and adjust the irrigation settings to give
plants exactly the right amount of water at the
right time, This, in turn, minimizes or eliminates
water waste or overflow into drainage systems.
Using equipment like that described here,
two very large exterior living walls with an
average yearly water consumption of less than
a gallon per square foot for the entire year were
maintained. The consumption rate is calculated
using irrigation timing data from maintenance
reports multiplied by the gallon per hour settings
on the drip irrigation lines.
Blaine Stand is the Membership Coordinator for
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and Staff Liaison for
the GRHC Green Wall Industry Committee.
Melissa Daniels, CNLP is the Vice President of Plant
Connection and Co-Chair of the GRHC Green Wall
Industry Committee.Plant Connection and Co-Chair
of the GRHC Green Wall Industry Committee.

Buildings That Live.
Rooftop
Rainwater Cisterns
Reservoir for
circulating recaptured
rainwater. Irrigates
surrounding green roof
system. Can
reduce (& sometimes
eliminate) HVAC
cooling costs
radiantly.

Green Roof System
Reduces storm water
run-off and urban
heat-island effect. Cools
and improves surrounding
air quality. Increases
lifespan of roof. Provides
thermal conservation &
offers excellent habitat for
pollinators.

Photovoltaic
Solar Panels
PV solar works
symbiotically with living
wall & green roof
systems. PV Solar cells
work 30% more efficiently
when kept cool by
plants, reducing the
building's carbon
footprint.

Living Facades
These trellis systems
provide excellent
protection for building
cladding systems, thermal
conservation & acoustic
buffering.Climbing plants
allow for large coverage
inexpensively.

Living Walls
Architek's living wall
systems cost less, use
less water, and require
far less maintenance.
They provide beauty
to the building's exterior
or interior and can utilize
recaptured rainwater.

Water Management:
Permeable Pavement
Permeable pavements
allow the movement of
stormwater through the
surface. In addition
to reducing runoff, this
effectively filters pollutants
from the water table.

Water Management:
Rainwater Harvesting
Captured rainwater can irrigate
landscapes, cool the building
and provide an optional
grey water source for flushing
toilets etc.

Architek Sustainable Building Products provides
solutions that breathe life and sustainability
into the modern structures we live and work in.
Providing products, resources & expertise
to architects, contractors and landscape designers,
it's never been easier being green.

Engineered Solutions For Living Buildings

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1.888.317.9226

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2016