You Can Create Your Own Green Walls
20 December 2011
Green walls are really nothing new – they’ve been used since ancient times, though the practice fell away during the Industrial Revolution. Today, more and more people are interested in creating a green wall on their home, their business or even on large commercial buildings to help preserve the environment, reduce energy costs and more. You can guild your own green walls pretty easily too.
What Are Green Walls?
A green wall is really a pretty simple thing in its purest form. It’s nothing more than encouraging plant growth on an exposed wall of a building. This can be done very easily in some cases, and it doesn’t require much in the way of soil, either. That makes it an ideal option for use in urban areas, though suburban and rural use is also simple.
Perhaps the simplest example of a green wall would be using ivy to cover an exterior wall of a home that sees considerable sun exposure. By using trellises, you can encourage ivy to grow up the entire wall. Because the plant life will absorb the sunlight before it strikes the home, the interior of the house stays cooler, reducing the need for air conditioning. Of course, encouraging plant life also boosts oxygen production, reduces carbon dioxide levels and traps carbon, as well.
Any Building Can Have Green Walls
As interest in green walls surges, some rather innovative products have been developed that allow green walls to be created almost anywhere. There are irrigation panels that can supply water to plants living on the side of tall buildings, specially designed “pockets” that offer a low-tech means of creating a green wall and numerous other solutions. Of course, you can always take the DIY approach and build your own solution pretty easily.
This article is published by Outdoor Design Source, Australia's most comprehensive external works directory of products and services. Featuring suppliers for landscaping, playground equipment, shade structures and outdoor lighting in all its applications to erosion control, drainage, street & outdoor furniture, retaining walls, wholesale nurseries and so much more. Outdoor Design Source is the essential reference for all specifiers in the landscape, civil and amenities industry.
