Green walls, also known as vertical gardens or living walls, are a popular choice for environmental design and architecture due to their numerous benefits, including air purification, temperature regulation, and mental health impact.

They can last up to 25 years with proper care and require minimal watering, making them a low-maintenance option for indoor spaces.

Green walls can improve indoor air quality by removing toxins and pollutants from the air, and they can reduce energy waste, making structures more sustainable and fire-resistant.

The optimal conditions for green walls to improve indoor air quality and temperature regulation include direction of the house, floor-to-ceiling windows, and convective windows that improve air circulation and cooling.

Green walls can reduce nitrogen dioxide by 40%, suspended particulates by 60%, and indoor fine particulates by 10%, while also reducing ozone by 30% and indoor temperature by 1.8 ℃.

Certain plants, such as Lily bamboo, are suitable for green walls and can be maintained with automatic sprinkler systems.

Regular leaf wiping, water-soluble fertilizer, and ventilated, sunny corners are ideal for indoor plants to photosynthesize and thrive.

Green walls can improve indoor air quality by 40-60% reduction in pollutants, and can reduce nitrogen dioxide concentration by about 40%.

Subsidies are available to support green wall construction, ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 yuan per square meter, with a single subsidy ceiling of 400,000 yuan.

Passive houses can maintain humidity at 40-60% and PM2.5 within 75, using natural ventilation and insulation to reduce energy consumption.

Green roofs can reduce temperature difference by 40 degrees Celsius, delay aging of waterproof layers, and increase building lifespan.

Energy-saving buildings can reduce carbon emissions by 26%, and certified passive houses have a series of data-based acceptance standards.

Green walls are a natural decoration for homes, and hanging plants on walls is an alternative to green walls.

Indoor gardens can improve indoor air quality naturally, and low-light plants are necessary for indoor gardens.

Plants such as Snake Plant, Aloe Vera, Peace Lily, Boston Fern, and Spider Plant can purify air and regulate temperature naturally.

Green walls can be achieved and maintained through policy support, low-interest loans, and suitable plant selection for different climates.

In terms of maintenance, green walls require minimal watering and ultra-low maintenance, making them a practical choice for busy buildings or those with limited staff.

However, they do require regular inspection to prevent pest and disease issues, and trimming is necessary to maintain their appearance.

Overall, green walls can provide numerous benefits in terms of air purification, temperature regulation, and mental health impact, making them a popular choice for environmental design and architecture.

They can be a valuable addition to existing buildings, providing natural insulation, reducing internal climate consumption, and improving air quality.

Green walls can also be used in conjunction with other sustainable design elements, such as solar shading and renewable energy systems, to achieve net-zero energy targets.

By incorporating green walls into building design, architects and engineers can create sustainable, energy-efficient, and healthy buildings that provide a range of benefits for both the environment and human health.

Green walls can be customized to suit different climates and environments, and can be designed to incorporate locally available materials and reduce the need for non-renewable resources.

They can also be used to provide thermal comfort and energy efficiency, making them a practical solution for building design.

Overall, green walls are a valuable component of sustainable building design, and can provide numerous benefits in terms of air purification, temperature regulation, and mental health impact.

Green walls, also known as vertical gardens or living walls, are a popular choice for environmental design and architecture due to their numerous benefits, including air purification, temperature regulation, and mental health impact.

Title:

Content: Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd Now Provides Singapore Properties with Vertical Green Walls

Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd is famous for its vertical wall planters, green walls and flower backdrop in Singapore. The company caters to residential and commercial clients as well.

Singapore, 2023-Jan-04 — /EPR Network/ — Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd, the leading landscaping company in Singapore is offering vertical green walls to commercial and residential properties. Whether it is a retail showroom or a high rise, the vertical green wall is an innovative approach towards introducing nature amidst the concrete jungle.

The company uses quality vertical wall planters, ensuring the healthy growth of the plants. These vertical walls are easy to maintain, assemble, install, disassemble, and reinstall. The technique used by Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd ensures the user does not have to spend much time tending and taking care of the plants.

Along with green walls, the company also provides clients with exquisite flower backdrops in Singapore to complement the greenery around them. It’s a long-term investment as a green wall can last up to 25 years.

Vertical walls by Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd come with some unique features:

  • Custom design to suit the client’s needs.
  • Minimal watering of the green wall plants.
  • Ultra-low maintenance ensured.
  • Quick installation due to a modular system.
  • Use of plants that can survive in a tropical climate.

Why choose a vertical green wall?

  • Reduces waste of energy.
  • Improves air quality.
  • Makes the structure sustainable.
  • The space becomes more fire-resistant.
  • Minimizes ambient noise.

The general installation cost for a vertical green wall by Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd ranges between $200 per square meter and $1200 per square meter, depending on the design, the kind of plants used and the installation process.

About the company:

One of the oldest nurseries in Singapore, Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd has 50 years of experience in the industry. Started out humbly as a flower shop, Prince’s Landscape Pte Ltd have evolved into a full-fledged landscape design and installation specialist.

Contact Details

Telephone: 65 6763 7000

Fax: 65 6892 2700

WhatsApp: +65 8838 3479

Email: buzz@prince.com.sg

Address: 53 Sungei Tengah Road, Singapore 698998

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They can last up to 25 years with proper care and require minimal watering, making them a low-maintenance option for indoor spaces.

Green walls can improve indoor air quality by removing toxins and pollutants from the air, and they can reduce energy waste, making structures more sustainable and fire-resistant.

The optimal conditions for green walls to improve indoor air quality and temperature regulation include direction of the house, floor-to-ceiling windows, and convective windows that improve air circulation and cooling.

Title:

Content: Supplement
Sunday WorkShop
Green living: heat in the energy supply is unstable when the building planning is good without air conditioning is cool
[Ming Pao News] On the evening of the 21st of last month, a fire broke out at the power bridge of CLP in Yuen Long, causing a large area of power outage in Tuen Mun, including Tin Shui Wai, which became a major disaster area.
Although this large-scale power outage is a single event, when climate change intensifies and the energy crisis, there may be another tragedy in the future when there is no air conditioning during hot days.
If you want to prepare for the rain, how can you choose a cooler home? How can urban planning alleviate the heat island effect?
Tin Shui Wai residents' discontent at blackout night
When the electricity was cut off in Tin Shui Wai on the evening of 21 June, Ah Fung, a resident of Tin Yat Estate, happened to be taking a bath. Fortunately, he had enough water to flush, and his father was less fortunate than him.
After cooking the food in the refrigerator, they went to bed early.
However, despite opening the door and opening the window, Ah Feng was still too hot to sleep. "I tried to sleep, but it was so sweaty, and it was noisy. There were alarms outside, fire trucks and ambulances kept moving, and the generators were noisy."
Ken also lives in Tin Yat Estate, where water was not available until 6 a.m. the next day, and power was restored near noon.
When he stayed at home, he went downstairs to hang around and found that many people preferred to sleep in the street, it was cooler. "There was electricity in the fence, and a young boy was moved to shout," I have electricity! "" No water and no electricity for nearly 12 hours. Residents can not even get cold water, "How difficult is it to send a water truck? It is not the power outage in the 18th district, why the efficiency of action can be so low."
He said, “If I get cold, I can sleep. ”
"Couldn't sleep because he was hungry, he didn't eat too much at night, because the mall restaurants, convenience stores were closed, and there were restaurants sitting on the floor, and a box of barbecue rice was asking for 100 yuan.
On the night of the power outage, electricity was restored to some housing estates in Tin Shui Wai from 9: 00 p.m., and the Tin Yat Estate where Ah Fung and Ken lived waited until the next morning to have electricity.
CLP announced late at night that Tin Ching Estate, Tin Fu Court, Tin Yuet Estate and Tin Chak Estate were expected to resume power supply within two working days.
The reporter is also a resident of Tin Shui Wai, and was one of the lucky ones who restored power earlier, but when he got home, the elevator still did not have electricity, so he climbed the 36th floor.
After flushing through the frozen water, I feel that the weather is not too hot, and I can sleep without turning on the air conditioner at night.
The reporter deduced that he felt cooler than Ah Feng and Ken, mainly because he had a shower, and was located on a high level, and the window was more open and ventilated.
Housing can be done in four ways.
Hong Kong's wind-screen buildings and heat island effects have been criticized for many years. Different areas and different building designs will also affect the temperature and humidity of the environment, and then affect our comfort.
If the power outage occurs in Yau Tsim Mong District, it is believed that the residents of the area will suffer more from the lack of water and electricity.
This power outage has caused Hong Kong people to reflect on their electricity habits and home environment. If you want to live comfortably and cool, what should you pay attention to when choosing a building?
Professor Wu Enrong of the Department of Architecture at CUHK Graduate School of Sustainable Architecture and Urban Climate Urban Planning, is writing a "live better" green building guidelines for the construction industry for reference, "The house you live in is based on its own foundation, good genes, you can easily choose not to turn on the air conditioner, but your genes are not good, you have no choice, you must open".
If you want to emulate Lin Chao-ying's insistence on not turning on the air conditioner, you may have to start with the housing first.
A. Go north to south
"The most important thing to buy a house is to look at the direction, not the sea view, not the sea view, sitting is the most important thing," says Wu En-jung.
There is a big sun in the morning to the east, and in the afternoon to the west, if you want to avoid the sun and heat into the house, it is best to avoid these two directions.
B.
Avoid floor-to-ceiling windows
At present, most of the new buildings use floor-to-ceiling glass windows as the selling point, which can introduce light, and the landscape is more open, but at the same time, it will make the house more hot, because the glass is a heat conductor, which can transmit heat into the room, and the sun will directly heat the indoor walls, floors, furniture and so on.
Lin Chao-ying has measured the temperature of floor glass, ground and walls in his home, and found that the surface temperature of floor glass is 7 to 8 ° C higher than the indoor and outdoor temperature, and the temperature of glass is also higher than the wall.
C. Conveyor window
"If your room is too deep, like 9 meters deep will not see the day, so deep room is best to avoid, the air is not circulating, the wind can not blow to the back."
Wu Enrong said that unless there are more windows in the room, the convection effect can be achieved.
There must be at least two convection windows, one on each diagonal line, or an "L" shape.
D.
Keep an eye out for the fence.
In addition to looking at the unit spacing, the view of the window and the design of the house will also affect whether the wind can blow in.
If it is a view of the building, the unit is surrounded by other buildings, and the wind will naturally be blocked by other buildings.
Green Sense senior project manager He Jiabao said, but also pay attention to the location of the neighbor's air conditioning outdoor unit, "the distance between the seat and the seat is too close, you can see what the opposite TV is doing, or our window air conditioner is facing the opposite window air conditioner, when the air conditioner is turned on, we have to open the air conditioner in the latch window, because the heat will come over."
Environmental Sense 2010 survey found that the cooling location of air conditioners in some housing estates is very close to the living room of the neighbors, and the neighbors eat hot air without half a hand.
Climate change in 50 years is in jeopardy.
You may think that the land problem in Hong Kong is serious, and it is difficult to buy a car from upstairs, and there are so many choices here. And the power outage in the northwest is only an accident, and the probability of recurrence is very low, usually in summer, the air conditioning is turned on, regardless of what convection window, screen.
But can the problem of "heat" really be solved so easily? Will we really not be able to turn on the air conditioner one day?
In collaboration with scholars from HKUST and HKU, Ng worked out how much the average temperature in Hong Kong will rise by the end of this century, based on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by humans today.
According to the Hong Kong Observatory, under the Very High Greenhouse Gas Emission Scenario (SSP5-8.5), the average annual temperature in Hong Kong is expected to increase by about 3.6 ° C from 1995 to 2014 (23.4 ° C) between 2081 and 2100. ° C, if 1 to 4 ° C plus 5 ° C, it can be up to 9 ° C, and in the future if it is not good, our environment will be 8 to 9 ° C hotter than it is now. ”
The number of cool days last year was 54, the highest on record.
Based on the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, the Hong Kong Observatory calculates that under the high concentration scenario (RCP8.5), the number of hot days per year will reach more than 100 by the end of this century, and the number of hot nights will reach more than 120 by the end of this century.
According to the CUHK study, a single hot day increased the risk of death by 1.6%, a single hot night increased the risk of death to 2.43%, and a continuous hot night increased the risk of death by 6.66%.
"The next generation, at our age, will have to work much harder than we do." Wu Enrong said the public needs to be aware of the urgency and seriousness of the problem. "In fact, we are not 50 years unchanged, it is 50 years of big changes, this is a big problem, we can see these data in science."
Energy Certificates for Placing in the UK
Afraid!
This is a strategy that the world has adopted for decades.
Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war, global energy prices have soared, and the fuel adjustment fees of CLP and HEC have also soared. The average net price per kilowatt hour in July increased by more than 6% and 17% respectively from January.
Based on an average monthly electricity consumption of 275 kWh for a three-person household, the electricity bill in June is about $17.9 more than in January for households living in Kowloon or the New Territories, and the electricity bill in June is about $56 more than in January for Hong Kong Island.
Mr Ng said electricity tariffs were cheap in Hong Kong. He is based in the UK, where the UK Energy Regulatory Authority announced a 54% increase in the energy price cap from April.
Hong Kong ’ s energy supply is mainly coal, natural gas and nuclear energy, all imported from abroad. If the international situation is unstable, it will affect energy prices and even lack of supply.
"If we can design buildings better, so that we can use less air conditioning, at least we can neutralize the high electricity cost of air conditioning, or the cause of cool and hot weather," said Ng. "In the past, we designed buildings as big as possible, we wanted to have an invincible sea view, and after reading, we didn't know whether our floors were comfortable or not.
Hong Kong developers won ’ t tell you how expensive your air-conditioning fee is after you stay in a windscreen building with floor-to-ceiling windows, but the United Kingdom will.
In 2007, the United Kingdom set up an Energy Performance Certificate (Energy Performance Certificate) as an energy efficiency index for houses, with grades A to G, rating the windows, walls, heating and other aspects of the house. The higher the rating, the lower the power consumption of the house, such as the old building because of the poor thermal insulation effect, the rating will be lower.
The owner must produce a certificate when selling or leasing, and can only sell or lease with Grade E or above, and will be upgraded to Grade C or above in 2025.
Wu Enrong believes that Hong Kong should follow suit, “I think the public should know how to maintain the environment of this house after you have bought the floor, so that you can live comfortably. ”
When there is demand in the market and the government changes the law, the industry will face up to the heat island effect and do more greening and ventilation design.
Denmark 's "finger plan" to prepare for the rain
Urban planning can not be short-sighted. In order to solve the current housing supply problem, it will only create the problem of decades later. “Why did Hong Kong ’ s city become like this, because the population expansion in the 1960s and 1970s was so sharp, there were many buildings, and the buildings were getting denser and higher. ” On the contrary, good town planning is long, such as Sha Tin and Ma On Shan, with air circulation.
After SARS, the Planning Department asked him to write a study to improve the urban climate and air circulation from the perspective of urban planning and design. He handed over the "Hong Kong Urban Climate Analysis Map", which showed how the wind flows, which areas are the hottest and the least ventilated, and how to plan.
The government has not adopted its research results, and he hopes that the future plans for new districts such as the Northern Metropolis and Lantau tomorrow will “try not to repeat the mistakes and bring the city into one piece. ”
Good example can refer to the "finger plan" (finger plan) in Copenhagen, Denmark, the urban design is like a hand, the palm is the core urban area, the five fingers are the satellite urban area developed along the railway line, between the fingers is a green zone, to maintain air circulation, but also to protect the environment.
This is the concept of 1947, "environmental design is not to wait for the problem to appear to solve, you have to anticipate the problem to solve, and after the building is built, it is difficult to demolish, unlike other things, the building is difficult to change."
The government plans to prepare for the rain, and the public should also make a contribution to carbon reduction to alleviate the heat island effect.
Green Sense holds “No Air Con Night ” every year, and the office also turns on a fan to replace the air conditioner. He Jiabao said that carbon reduction is not a desperate call to everyone not to turn on the air conditioner in hot weather, but I hope that everyone will think about whether the air conditioner is necessary.
If the outdoor temperature is lower than 27 ° C, why not consider not turning on the air conditioner? To cool the indoor, consider installing ceiling fans, falling window curtains, placing bamboo mats on the chair, and wiping the temperature down with a damp cloth on the seat.
Wen Ju Linlin
{Photo} Data Image, Online Image
{Art} Chang Yu-chi
{edit} Lin Hsiao-hui
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Green walls can reduce nitrogen dioxide by 40%, suspended particulates by 60%, and indoor fine particulates by 10%, while also reducing ozone by 30% and indoor temperature by 1.8 ℃.

Title:

Content: Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi City, Chiayi County, Chiayi
The school received an environmental subsidy of NT $220,000 two years ago to plant large Dumbo flowers to form a green wall, which helps to cool down the temperature and purify the air, and also to install an automatic sprinkler system to maintain the ecology of the green wall.
According to the Environmental Protection Bureau of Chiayi City Government, since 2019, the Environmental Protection Department has promoted the vertical air green wall project. Since 2019, three schools, including Xingjia, Jiabei Elementary School and Jiabei Elementary School, have installed climbing plants on the school's daughter wall and the balcony of the classroom.
The Environmental Protection Bureau of the Chiayi Municipal Government said that this year, the Environmental Protection Agency expanded the target of subsidies, in addition to the original subsidies of public middle school, public elementary school, public preschool institutions, public welfare groups, public facilities, environmental protection night market, civic activity center and other venues, air green wall subsidies of 3,000 to 6,000 yuan per square meter, single subsidy ceiling of 400,000 yuan.
According to the Municipal Environmental Protection Agency, according to the results of the study, vertical green walls can reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), suspended particulates (PM10) by about 40% and 60%, but also reduce the concentration of indoor fine suspended particulates (PM2.5) by about 10%, ozone by about 30%, and indoor temperature reduction by about 1.8 ℃.
According to the city's Environmental Protection Bureau, the appropriate plant types are lily bamboo, firecracker red, Yunnan yellow carnation, turtle, Boston kidney fern, hydrangea, African pansy or panthera, and can be selected according to the space planning and installation requirements, so that the space is more beautiful.
# Green Wall # Cooling # EPB # EPD # Planting

Certain plants, such as Lily bamboo, are suitable for green walls and can be maintained with automatic sprinkler systems.

Regular leaf wiping, water-soluble fertilizer, and ventilated, sunny corners are ideal for indoor plants to photosynthesize and thrive.

Title:

Content: How to grow indoor plants? 6 tips you should not know
Peggy Yu
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Air pollution has recently become one of the more serious problems in Taiwan, some people have begun to put potted plants in balconies or homes, hoping to improve the air quality, but how to maintain indoor plants?
What is the difference between outdoor and outdoor? How can you increase oxygen and reduce carbon dioxide?
Below we give you 7 tips to help you maintain indoor air!
1. Choose a ventilated, sunny corner
The little certainty in the city, the greenery can make itself.
Grinding design
Planting requires sunlight, air, and water, but it is easy to be shaded by the shadows of high-rise buildings and walls in the room. At this time, you need to clear a good corner, which can be ventilated and irradiated by the sun, so that the plants can photosynthesize!
In addition, if you can not fully enjoy the sun, it is recommended to place the planting rotation to the sun window, take turns to sun, and even use artificial sunlight. It is recommended to check how many light sources your indoor potted plants need before purchasing.
2. Wipe the leaves regularly
Regular wiping of the leaf can remove dust from the leaf and make photosynthesis smoother, just like regular cleaning of filters, wiping of air conditioners or electric fan blades, to maximize the machine ’ s effectiveness.
Also, keep an eye out for dried leaves in potted plants, and trim and clean them regularly, otherwise they will only consume nutrients and even produce pests. Withered flowers must also be removed from potted plants, and the potted plants should be kept clean to keep them healthy!
3. Fertilizer should be appropriate
Some people will use fertilizer in the planting, it is recommended to use water-soluble fertilizer in indoor potted plants, because it can be directly absorbed by the leaves, preferably in small quantities, according to the packaging instructions in the required dosage, can also be sprayed on the leaves or poured into the pot, so that the plant can grow healthy and nutritious.
4. Choose the species that release the most oxygen
For office workers, green planting can let the visual rest relax, more can adsorb dirt, generally speaking, the surface of fluffy or wrinkled leaves, dark leaves, the most able to adsorb dirt, give better oxygen, it is recommended that every 9 square meters in the room should be placed a pot of 6 inches, can help improve air quality.
It is recommended that before work or vacation, you can move the pot to an indirect sun-drying place, leave water on the bottom of the pot, or pour it through first, keep it moist, and return without fear of it wither.
5. Plants that are too high should be replaced.
If they do not have enough sun, they will be able to "grow", that is, only the stalk grows higher and higher, but not leaves or flowers, causing the plant to become more and more fragile.
Some plants will run out of roots to breathe in the bottom of the pot, and even there are small roots on the surface of the soil, which means that this pot plant has not been able to hold the plant, it is time to help it move a new home!
First knock the potted plant, let the soil loose, and then slowly separate the roots. If there is a bad root, it is also recommended to be removed. In the new soil and new potted plants, you can add fertilizer, so that the potted plant can grow in two!
6. Ferns fit in the bathroom
Many people like small ferns, but he is not as easy as imagined to care for, in fact, ferns mostly like wet environment, if the air is too dry, such as air conditioning, it is easy to yellow.
We recommend that you move him to a moist place, such as a bathroom, toilet, or spray water on the leaves to increase the humidity.
But the root of the fern is more fragile, pay attention not to let him not excessive watering, but the environment is still wet, in order to give him a healthy growth environment!
Interior designers can also help you get the right planting location.
Read more: Green Together! 7 Things to Note About Using Plants in Your Home
Do you need someone to help you design or build your home?
Find a professional now!
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Green walls can improve indoor air quality by 40-60% reduction in pollutants, and can reduce nitrogen dioxide concentration by about 40%.

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Content: In order to improve the environmental air quality and let children learn with peace of mind, the Taichung Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau has continued to build a clean air green wall in the school. This year, 12 schools in Jianping Elementary School, Juren Elementary School and Chongde Elementary School have received subsidies from the Environmental Protection Department.
According to the Environmental Protection Bureau, through the installation of clean air green walls, indoor air quality can be improved. At present, space such as classroom corridors and flower stands outside the daughter wall in Taichung City can be planted, which can achieve the benefits of dust retention, air pollution absorption and temperature regulation.
In order to strengthen the protection of the school environment for children, the Taichung City Environmental Protection Bureau expanded the subsidy for the construction of a clean air green wall on the campus, and the current subsidy amount to 1.76 million yuan, with an area of 358 square meters.
The Environmental Protection Bureau stressed that currently selected plants that can purify the air and do not need to spend too much money and time to maintain include the Dragon Tubeh, the Junzi and Wu Bamboo, the Turtle, the Cannonflower or the Honeysuckle.
How good is the effect of clean air green wall?
According to international research, vertical clean air green walls can reduce the concentration of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) by about 40% and 60%. In addition, green walls can also reduce the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in classrooms by about 10% and the concentration of ozone (O3) by about 30%.
Green wall is the most natural and energy efficient air purification facilities, no need to plug in electricity, self-circulation, to achieve the purpose of air purification, can be called the "most environmentally friendly air purifier".
Chen Hongyi, director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, said that in addition to blocking outdoor pollutants and improving indoor air, the air green wall can also adjust the temperature and drive energy conservation and carbon reduction. Next year, Taichung City is expected to expand the subsidy target, including community activity centers, public kindergartens and environmental night markets.
# Green Wall # Air # Cleanliness # Campus # Environment

Subsidies are available to support green wall construction, ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 yuan per square meter, with a single subsidy ceiling of 400,000 yuan.

Passive houses can maintain humidity at 40-60% and PM2.5 within 75, using natural ventilation and insulation to reduce energy consumption.

Title:

Content: People 's Network > > International
Promoting green buildings for low-carbon development
May 23, 2022 05: 27 | Source: People's Daily - People's Daily
Small number
Cottin's rooftop green space.
Data picture
A view of the New York City train.
Photographed by our reporter Li Qiang
A view of the World Trade Center building in Bahrain.
Data picture
Green buildings are buildings that maintain low energy consumption and achieve environmental friendliness throughout their life cycle.
Through energy-saving technology and design to improve the low carbon level, according to local conditions, the use of renewable energy to reduce energy consumption, green roofs to improve local circulation … In recent years, some countries have continuously promoted green buildings, carried out many useful explorations and attempts, effectively reducing the carbon emissions of buildings.
Germany
Passive room, energy saving and environmental protection concern
This reporter Li Qiang
No heating in winter, no air conditioning in summer, the humidity is maintained at 40% -60% year-round, and the PM2.5 value is maintained within 75 … In recent years, passive rooms originating in Germany have received more and more attention with their higher comfort and energy consumption significantly lower than the characteristics of traditional buildings.
In the southwestern German city of Heidelberg, the train city next to the old city is currently one of the largest passive housing complexes in the world.
This new area developed by the abandoned freight station covers an area of 116 hectares, with its advanced energy efficiency and high quality of life, becoming the new business card of Heidelberg.
At the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference last year, Trains New Town was listed as a best practice example for sustainable urban development.
"Wear a hat" environmental design
According to the German Passive House Institute, a passive house is “a building that achieves thermal comfort only through post-cooling or thermal compensation of the fresh air system. ”
In other words, the passive house by giving the whole building "wear clothes and hats", improve the thermal insulation performance and air tightness of the building, and make full use of passive heat sources such as natural ventilation, sun and light to reduce the carbon emissions of the building.
15 minutes walk from Heidelberg train station, the reporter came to the train new city, only saw the park green space and artificial river and other landscape through them, white houses neatly arranged. At first glance, these houses are not special, "wearing clothes and hats" how to achieve?
The difference between passive houses and traditional buildings is first reflected in the external walls.
In Germany, the thickness of the outer wall of the general civil building is about 350 mm, and the passive room of the train city is more than 500 mm, which contains 200-325 mm of insulation layer.
Even on winter nights, the indoor glass surface temperature will not be lower than 17 degrees Celsius.
The foundation at the bottom of the outer wall is also covered with insulation materials.
The foundation further down, is the passive room in addition to the insulation layer of the other core equipment - fresh air system.
Before the outdoor fresh air enters the passive room, the air inlet pipe is first buried deep underground, and the air inlet pipe is preheated to 5 degrees Celsius by using the residual temperature of the ground.
Although the principle of passive housing may not sound complicated, it is not easy to actually build.
After more than 20 years of practice, Germany has developed a certification system.
Whether it is building energy consumption, house air tightness, or HVAC equipment, fresh air system, insulation layer, doors and windows and other facilities have a series of data based acceptance standards, only through all the testing, submitted up to 15 proof of materials, can be certified as passive room.
In order to achieve the passive house energy consumption standard, each building project in the new train city has a certified passive house planner to participate in the discussion, and according to the characteristics of the project to give different energy supply plans and formulate energy conservation strategies.
In addition to the passive house building itself, the train city has many energy-saving and emission-reducing environmental protection designs.
Smart meters are installed in every household in the new city to monitor energy consumption and identify potential areas for energy conservation; LED street lights controlled by a remote management system can adjust the lighting brightness according to the actual needs of the city.
If you look at the whole city from a high point, you will find more mysteries.
On the green roof of a large area, different colors of Artemisia and grasses are mixed, colorful and pleasing to the eye.
Such a green roof can not only beautify the environment, but also adjust the temperature of a good helper.
Research shows that in Germany, the temperature difference between a roof covered with vegetation and a bare roof can be as high as 40 degrees Celsius.
Vegetation can reduce the temperature difference of the roof structure layer, thereby delaying the aging of the waterproof layer, the insulation layer and the building layer below, and increasing the service life of the building.
In addition, green roofs can store rainwater, thereby reducing flood risk and providing habitat for wildlife.
Low-carbon liveable facilities
At present, the whole train city has built 3,000 housing units, two nurseries, two playgrounds, a park, a primary school, a community center and related commercial facilities.
The reporter then came to the Gadamer Square in the center of the new train town.
In the afternoon, the square was full of excitement.
Children play, young students play soccer or skateboard … This is not common in Germany, which is highly aging.
"The average age of the residents of Train New Town is only 29 years old, and about 90% of the residents are under the age of 45," the Train New Town Municipal Press Office said in a written response to reporters.
Energy-saving and environmentally friendly passive housing, convenient transportation location, close to the natural community landscape... Train New Town has become a hot plate in Heidelberg, attracting a large number of young people to move here.
On the local main rental agency website, only three vacant houses are being rented out in the new train town.
“The living experience here is really great. The green space and water are downstairs, the room is very comfortable, and the energy consumption is much lower than that of the ordinary house. ” Residents Wutler and his son play a remote control boat by the artificial stream downstairs, not far away, two wild ducks are leisurely swimming.
The Kuber Hotel in the corner of Gadamer Square is the first passive room hotel in Heidelberg, which is also the hotel ’ s biggest selling point. “The fresh air system is installed so that the room can keep the air fresh without opening the window. ”
Policy support for industrial development
In recent years, energy issues have continued to cause concern in Germany.
According to statistics, in 2020, household energy needs such as heating, hot water supply and lighting accounted for 26% of Germany ’ s terminal energy consumption.
Improving energy efficiency in buildings is an important part of Germany ’ s national energy policy.
In 1977, Germany promulgated the first energy-saving regulation "Building Insulation Regulations", which has been continuously revised since then, and introduced relevant laws in the field of environmental protection. In 2019, Germany passed the new "Building Energy Law", which has become the standard legal framework for green and low-energy buildings.
According to the bill, from 2021, new buildings must reach near zero energy consumption, and all existing buildings will reach near zero energy consumption by 2050.
In order to achieve this goal, the German government has increased the promotion of energy-saving buildings such as passive houses in recent years, and many energy-saving green and environmental protection building projects, including train new cities, have been launched in various parts of Germany.
Although it has excellent performance in energy conservation and environmental protection, it is higher than the cost of ordinary buildings, which affects the promotion of passive houses to a certain extent.
To this end, the German government has supported the construction of passive housing through the introduction of low-interest loans and construction subsidies.
Taking the train city as an example, the German bank Credit Suisse and the bank of Baden-Württemberg offer different forms of low-interest loans to homebuyers.
The city of Heidelberg has launched a 6 million euro funding scheme to subsidize 300 housing units in the new city, so that low- and middle-income citizens can also have the opportunity to live.
The rapid development of new green buildings such as passive houses has also promoted the continuous expansion of the German environmental protection construction industry.
From construction plan design and consulting, building materials R & D and production, to construction, operation and other links, a large number of jobs have been created.
The construction of the new train city alone has brought more than 6,000 jobs.
German policy attempts in areas such as passive housing have also been recognized at the EU level.
At present, the number of ultra-low energy passive houses in Europe is increasing at an annual rate of 8%.
In an increasing number of countries, the construction of new buildings or renovation and renovation of buildings according to passive housing standards is also recognized as an important way to achieve the goal of reducing the carbon emissions of buildings.
Bahrain
Wind power generation
Journalist Week 🙂
Manama, the capital of Bahrain, on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula.
Two tall buildings, wide and pointed, stood opposite each other, like a pair of wings of sail.
The two towers are connected by three beams, each of which is equipped with a huge "windmill".
They are constantly rotating in the endless sea breeze, providing the building with a steady stream of clean energy -
This is the World Trade Center in Bahrain, a skyscraper that blends wind turbines with buildings.
Bahrain is located between Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
The unique geographical and climatic conditions make the local sea breeze resources rich, and also provide a good natural environment for the practice of wind energy construction.
The World Trade Center is 240 meters high and has 50 floors, and its shape is inspired by the traditional Arabic "wind tower".
The three beams between the towers are located on the 16th, 25th and 35th floors of the building.
The blades of the windmill rotate 38 times per minute, and a series of gearboxes are installed in the engine compartment.
Standing in the high downstairs to look up, the sea breeze slowly blowing, sometimes on the ground can not feel too much wind, but the "windmill" above is turning fast.
This was aided by the ingenuity of architect Shaun Kira, who used aerodynamic principles to design the planes and sections of the two towers into oval and canvas shapes, allowing the wind from the sea to concentrate between the two towers.
The triangular sail-shaped building body plays the role of a wind guide plate, guides more wind to blow to the lower wind turbine, and enables the three wind turbines to rotate at about the same speed.
According to reports, the three wind turbines generate about 1,200 megawatt-hours of electricity per year, which can meet about 15% of the electricity demand of the World Trade Center in Bahrain, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 300 Bahraini households, or about 2 million tons of coal or 6 million barrels of oil.
In addition to the unique “windmill ”, the World Trade Center in Bahrain has taken a number of measures in the design and construction process to reduce carbon emissions.
For example, buffer space is set up between the outdoor environment and the air-conditioned room to reduce the temperature of hot air and reduce air convection heat; high performance solar glass with low shading coefficient is used on the facade without sunshade facilities to obtain as little solar heat as possible; the building also has a pool at the entrance to cool the air entering the building...
Since its completion in 2008, the World Trade Center in Bahrain has received several major awards in the field of construction and environmental protection.
Chira said that achieving the sustainable vision of the building with rigorous scientific design is an important message of the building.
At present, Bahrain is developing renewable energy projects in various forms, including solar, wind and waste-to-energy.
According to local media reports, the government of Bahrain has adopted the “Vision 2030 ” plan, which proposes a series of measures to protect the natural environment, reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable energy development.
According to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan, by 2025, renewable energy generation will reach 5% of the total electricity generation in the country, and this figure will rise to 10% by 2035.
Brazil
Focus on climate adaptation
Our reporter Bi Mengying
In the Haor community of Curitiba in the southeastern city of Brazil, a simple white house is eye-catching among the neatly dark houses on both sides of the street.
On the front, the first thing that came into view was a vibrant green on the roof.
The owner and designer of the house, Kostyn, and his family have lived here for five years.
This house is not only a simple and economical construction scheme, but also easy to maintain after occupancy, and is a highly reproducible, economical and environmentally friendly climate adaptive building.
The construction sector is a major carbon emitter and therefore a key area for global carbon reduction.
With the continuous development of green buildings, climate adaptation has become one of the important research directions of the current construction industry.
Climate adaptive buildings in the design of the region based on the climate conditions, from the comfort of the human body, fully consider the season, sunlight, wind direction, rainfall and humidity and other climatic factors, in order to improve the energy-saving performance of the building, while allowing users to have a green and healthy life.
In the Kostyn home, the concept of minimalist and environmentally friendly design is reflected in all kinds of details —
The utility model has the advantages of simple structure, convenient operation, low cost, etc.
This design not only optimizes the waterproof effect of the roof, but also reduces the indoor temperature in summer and heat loss in winter.
The stormwater collection system is made up of cisterns and pumps on the roof.
Curitiba is rainy, and this system not only ensures that the rainwater is used to irrigate the vegetation in the compound, but also reduces the drainage pressure of the sewers, "Kostin said.
Eight shiny solar panels make up the house's power generation system.
The local government encouraged the people to use clean energy, Kosten only a week to get the approval of the installation of solar rooftop power station, and there are special people to install and debug equipment.
"This group of solar panels has more than two kilowatts of power, and the daily conversion of electricity is more than enough for families to use in daily life," he said.
In addition, the all-white house itself also plays a role in reflecting light and reducing heat absorption.
There is no air conditioning installed in the house and electric fans are rarely used, thanks to the natural ventilation design of the house.
Natural ventilation is achieved in all the environment of the house and air circulation is enhanced by large openings along the prevailing wind direction.
During the conversation, a green hummingbird suddenly visited, flapping its wings and shuttling among the flowers.
"In addition to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are also regulars in the home.
These diligent pollen transmitters contribute to the healthy growth of the plants in the hospital.
Kostin told reporters that although the design of the house sounds complicated, it is not really expensive, "compared with other single-family homes of the same size, saving nearly a third of the construction cost."
In Brazil, climate-resilient buildings have become a common building type.
According to data released by the Energy and Environmental Design Pioneer (LEED) in 2021, the number of certified green buildings in Brazil ranks fifth in the world in the annual ranking of the top ten global LEED markets in 2019.
Brazil attaches great importance to the promotion of green buildings, many regions have launched corresponding policies to support the development of biomass building materials such as straw, wood chips, and promote new building materials such as industrial waste and construction slag as raw materials, and strive to reduce the consumption of building materials.
"Although my design is simple, it can fully meet the needs of our family under the conditions of environmental protection, energy conservation and sustainable development."
If this philosophy and design can influence others to make simple and beneficial changes, why not? ” he said with a laugh at the end of the interview.
People 's Daily (May 23, 2022, 17 pages)
(Editor: Bai Yu, Zhao Xinyue)
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Green roofs can reduce temperature difference by 40 degrees Celsius, delay aging of waterproof layers, and increase building lifespan.

Energy-saving buildings can reduce carbon emissions by 26%, and certified passive houses have a series of data-based acceptance standards.

Green walls are a natural decoration for homes, and hanging plants on walls is an alternative to green walls.

Title:

Content: 6 Easy Ways to Build an Indoor Garden
CHITING CHANG – HOMIFY
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Indoor plants are not only beautiful, they bring natural greenery to your room, they also have the function of purifying toxins in the air.
If you don ’ t have a large garden or balcony space to grow flowers and plants, you can still work on creating a small garden indoors.
Today ’ s idea book will teach you 6 simple ways to build an indoor garden.
After reading these methods, you should no longer be able to use the space limit as an excuse!
1. Palm Trees
If you want to plant a tree indoors, you must choose plants that can survive in low light conditions.
An atmospheric, tropical palm tree is the perfect choice.
If you have concerns about the frequency of watering and the temperature in the room, ask a professional for more details.
2.
Glass bonsai
Terrarium Installations
The Urban Botanist
Easy to handle, small glass potted plants are ideal for small suites or work desks! You can choose large glass containers, such as old light bulbs, fish tanks, candy cans, etc., then put a small stone as the bottom, spread the moss, and then put the soil.
The next step is to put your plants in the soil and then spread the moss.
When finished, you can put on your favorite decorations again, so that the simple glass potted plant is finished.
3.
Fill the walls with plants.
Green walls can be the most natural decoration in the home, and can also remove toxins from the air and improve the quality of life.
Although the idea is simple, building a green wall can be a tricky task, and if you are not confident in your DIY skills, you can consult with homify experts.
4.
Hang the plants on the wall.
Hanging Vintage Garden Tap Planter
ELLA JAMES
If the above green wall is a bit too much, then you can choose to hang plants on the wall.
If you don ’ t like the general method, you can follow the above example and choose the potted plants made of water taps, so that your potted plants can also be used as decorations in your home.
5.
Kitchen Spices
The easiest way to create an indoor garden is to plant the herbs you need.
Put your favorite herbs in the kitchen, in addition to making the kitchen full of green surprises, you can also let the vanilla smell in the air.
6.
Make your living space green
We love the concept of an indoor garden!
Put a wooden table on the plant of the tree, it becomes a unique tree table.
When guests come to visit, do you have the feeling of playing chess and making tea in the old banyan tree?
More Inspiration for Interior Decoration: 17 Simple and Affordable Ways to Make Your Home Better
Do you need someone to help you design or build your home?
Find a professional now!
Find out more about home design!

Indoor gardens can improve indoor air quality naturally, and low-light plants are necessary for indoor gardens.

Plants such as Snake Plant, Aloe Vera, Peace Lily, Boston Fern, and Spider Plant can purify air and regulate temperature naturally.

Title:

Content: 7 Plants That Help Bring Down Room Temperature In Summer

7 Plants That Help Bring Down Room Temperature In Summer

During the sweltering summer months, maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature can be a challenge

Sujal ChawatheUpdated: Sunday, May 12, 2024, 01:14 PM IST

During the sweltering summer months, maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature can be a challenge. While air conditioning is a common solution, incorporating certain house plants into your home can also help cool down your space naturally. Not only do these plants add a touch of greenery to your interior decor, but they also act as natural air purifiers and humidifiers.

The logic behind how certain house plants can help cool the microclimate inside a room lies in their ability to transpire, evaporate water, and create shade. Here's a breakdown:

Transpiration: Plants absorb water through their roots and release it into the air through tiny pores in their leaves called stomata. This process is known as transpiration. As water evaporates from the surface of the leaves, it removes heat energy from the plant and its immediate surroundings, similar to how sweat cools our skin.

Evaporative cooling: When water evaporates from plants and pots, it cools the surrounding air. This process is called evaporative cooling. As the water vaporizes, it absorbs heat energy from the air, lowering the temperature in the vicinity of the plant. This cooling effect can be significant, especially in dry climates where evaporation rates are higher

Shade: The foliage of plants provides shade, which helps reduce the amount of direct sunlight that enters a room. Direct sunlight can contribute to heat gain indoors, especially during the summer months. By blocking or diffusing sunlight, plants help maintain a cooler microclimate inside the room.

House plants to keep your house cool

Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata): Also known as the "mother-in-law's tongue," the snake plant is renowned for its ability to purify the air and thrive in low light conditions.
It releases oxygen at night, making it an excellent choice for improving indoor air quality while also cooling down your space.

Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller): Apart from its soothing gel that's great for sunburns, aloe vera plants also help reduce indoor temperatures through transpiration.
Their succulent leaves release moisture into the air, creating a cooling effect in the surrounding environment.

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.): With its elegant white blooms and glossy foliage, the peace lily is not only visually appealing but also effective at purifying the air.
This plant thrives in shady areas and helps maintain humidity levels, which can contribute to a cooler indoor atmosphere during hot summer days.

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata): Boston ferns are prized for their lush, feathery fronds and their ability to thrive in high humidity environments.
Placing a Boston fern in your home can help increase moisture levels and reduce ambient temperatures, creating a refreshing oasis during the summer heat.

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum): Spider plants are known for their air-purifying qualities and ease of care, making them popular choices for indoor spaces. They absorb indoor pollutants and release oxygen, contributing to a cleaner and cooler indoor environment.

Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica): With its large, glossy leaves, the rubber plant adds a tropical touch to any room while also improving indoor air quality. This plant is particularly effective at removing toxins from the air and releasing moisture, helping to cool down your home during the summer months.

Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): Pothos, also known as devil's ivy, is a versatile and low-maintenance plant that thrives in a variety of lighting conditions. Its trailing vines not only add visual interest to your space but also help purify the air and reduce indoor temperatures.

Incorporating these house plants into your home decor not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also promotes a healthier and cooler indoor environment during the summer. From air purification to humidity regulation, these plants offer natural solutions for beating the heat and creating a more comfortable living space.

(Sujal Chawathe is a CA by education but a gardener at heart. Her venture Indoor Greens helps urban offices and homes, add and maintain plants)

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Green walls can be achieved and maintained through policy support, low-interest loans, and suitable plant selection for different climates.

In terms of maintenance, green walls require minimal watering and ultra-low maintenance, making them a practical choice for busy buildings or those with limited staff.

However, they do require regular inspection to prevent pest and disease issues, and trimming is necessary to maintain their appearance.

Title:

Content: A fixture of boutiquey hotels and upmarket restaurants, a succulent wall brings the natural world spectacularly indoors. The good news is that they’re not as difficult as they look to create for the home – and the results are always unique.

What you need

Frame; trowel; plants.

The expert

Karl Mok is a design expert and consultant who has been working in the design industry for more than six years. Karl focuses on making design accessible, working at the intersection of architecture, interiors and branding while drawing inspiration from travelling and natural materials.

Step-by-step guide

Step 1

First, you need to determine where you want to install your succulent wall. You need to make sure the location receives enough light for your plants to thrive. South-facing walls are ideal but any with adequate light will work.

Step 2

You can use a variety of frames, including picture frames, shadow boxes, or even a pallet. I recommend choosing one that fits your aesthetic and the size of the wall you want to cover. Charity shops or second-hand stores can be great places to find unique frames that will really make your wall stand out.

Step 3

Once you have your frame, add a backing to hold the soil and plants. I suggest a breathable material, such as landscape fabric and then chicken wire to prevent the soil from falling out. Cut the material to the size of the frame and attach it at the back using a stapler.

Step 4

You then need to fill the frame with soil, making sure it is moist but not soaking wet. You can use a succulent-specific soil mix, or even create your own using equal parts of sand, perlite and potting soil.

Step 5

Now choose your succulents. I suggest selecting a wide variety in different shapes and sizes so you can mix and match them to create a unique and visually appealing display. I always recommend choosing plants that have similar light and watering requirements to make caring for them easier.

Step 6

Using a small trowel or your fingers, create small holes in the soil and insert the succulent roots. Gently pack the soil around the plants to secure them in place before affixing them to your wall. When it comes to caring for your succulent wall, water it sparingly, as succulents don’t like to be over-watered. I recommend using a spray bottle or a small watering can with a narrow spout to avoid getting the leaves too wet.

Top tips

1. Stay dry. Pick an area that gets enough light but don’t forget you also need to accommodate potential water damage. I recommend keeping your succulent wall away from furniture, such as sofas or chairs, and don’t hang it above carpets, which can become soggy and start to smell. While it won’t be a torrential downpour each time you water, popping down a small absorbent mat or towel for a few hours after will protect your floors and furniture.

2. Invest in the best. Good quality soil will help ensure your plants get all the nutrients they need to thrive on their wall garden journey, so take the time to look for the right stuff and don’t skimp. However, I don’t recommend scouring your compost bin as, given the soil won’t be turned over once it’s on the wall, this could make things pongy, so opt for enrichment that can be dissolved in water and sprayed on instead.

3. Go green or go home. You want to make sure you pick only the best succulents for your wall, so look for those with strong stems and bright green leaves when selecting which ones will make it on to your wall display. This means they are healthy and more likely to withstand being, literally, turned on their side.

4. Mix it up. Mixing up the shapes and sizes of your planters can make your succulent wall more dramatic and really cement it as a piece of living art. I recommend using trailing varieties like donkey’s tail (sedum morganianum) on the edges of frames to break up any harsh lines, and bright red lipstick echeveria (echeveria agavoides) to add some bright pops of colour.

5. Layer it on thick. Hanging planters at different levels can make your succulent wall look more dynamic than just having them flat against one another in rows or columns. Use shadow boxes, thicker frames, or add extra wood to the back of certain frames to create a clearly defined platform.

6. Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Adding hanging decorations such as wind chimes, birdhouses or suncatchers can add more visual interest and an extra layer of dimension and texture.

7. Spray it again. Water your wall only when necessary but don’t let things dry up either. If you’re savvy at DIY you could always install discreet self-watering pots so that everything stays nice and moist without needing constant attention from yourself. Otherwise, a light spray every couple of weeks will suffice but always keep a close eye and top up more if needed.

8. Pest project. Inspect your wall closely every few weeks, looking around stem joints where insects tend to hide so you can get rid of them before they spread. You should also watch out for signs of disease such as discolouration or wilting leaves, which might indicate root rot issues caused by over-watering, or burning from being too exposed to the sun.

9. Cut backs. The great thing about succulent walls is that, as they grow, your living art piece will evolve and get better – but to keep it looking its best, make sure to give it a trim once in a while. This includes removing dead leaves, thinning out any overgrown areas or replacing succulents that are struggling.

And finally… ENJOY! Don’t forget why you started this project in the first place. Make sure to spend time enjoying your little piece of nature, you deserve it.

Five common mistakes

1. Not researching beforehand. Make sure you are committed to this project, as well as the upkeep required, before jumping in. If you’re not sure, try looking after a small handful of succulents before committing to a whole wall.

2. Overwatering. Too much water can lead to root rot.

3. Not making it secure. It might seem simple but too often people underestimate how many fixtures or fittings they may need, leading to a pile of plants and dirt falling down on an unexpected visitor.

4. Over-planting. While you want to make a visual impact, cramming too many succulents in your frames can undermine their growth – and even make them more prone to rot.

5. Ugly planting. Don’t get stuck with a variety that makes you cringe. Living stones (lithops dorotheae), for instance, make people think of brains. Not so bad when the plant is small, but it can look unnerving the larger it gets.

Karl Mok is founder of Friends Studio, friendsstudio.co

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Overall, green walls can provide numerous benefits in terms of air purification, temperature regulation, and mental health impact, making them a popular choice for environmental design and architecture.

Title:

Content: Green and Cold - Cooling Cities | Documentary | DW | 09.04.2022
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DOCUMENTARY
Green & Cold - Cooling Cities
Cities around the world are increasingly exposed to extreme heat waves.
Too much concrete and narrow streets raise the temperature of cities, posing a health hazard.
But there are innovators who have declared war on the heat with new ideas to cool cities.
Watch the video 26: 00
In the center of Düsseldorf, rope-clad gardeners hang on the largest green facade in Europe.
Architect Christophe Ingenhoven designed this façade to cool the closed neighborhood on hot days.
Now Martin Pilz and his team have to take care of this 27-meter-high façade during the hot summer: “The leaves of the plants retain moisture and evaporate when it ’ s hot.
It ’ s better than a sunshade! ”
Rainwater expert Klaus Gotchheim says: “We have to bring the water back to the cities – it cools the whole area. ”
Open water streams in cities provide this opportunity, and ensure cooler temperatures.
Singapore ’ s skyscrapers look like they ’ re in the middle of a tropical forest.
These dense inner cities still deliver a high quality of life, and Thomas Schroepfer at the University of Singapore is researching how to achieve that quality.
Rethinking the architecture of building cities and protecting them from heat waves is a challenge for green megacities to secure a healthy future that keeps pace with climate change.

Title:

Content: Health · Life
In response to the hot summer weather, various measures are taken everywhere -
Cool in summer.
August 04, 2021 07: 53 Source: People 's Daily Overseas Edition
The monsoon climate in China is remarkable, and the summer is generally high temperature.
Since entering the small heat and heat festival, the maximum daily temperature in many places has reached more than 35 ° C.
In order to cope with the high temperature and heat, various places have introduced a variety of heat prevention and cooling measures to reduce the impact of high temperatures on people's lives and production, and protect the masses from a cool summer day.
Care for outdoor workers to send a summer gift package
"This year, the project department prepared summer supplies for us early, although the weather is hot, but everyone's enthusiasm for work is higher." In the summer of the Xiongan New Area in Hebei Province, large-scale development and construction are in full swing.
Workers are stepping up construction on the resettlement housing project in the Rongdong area.
Tian Yaliang, a worker, said that the project department set up a free collection point of green bean congee in the workers' living area, and equipped with huixiang Zhengqi water and ice blocks, and workers can receive free of charge when they go to and from work.
In the hot summer, a group of outdoor workers, such as construction workers, sanitation workers, takeaway brothers, express brothers, etc., are busy in the hot sun, insist on working in the high temperature, and serve everyone's production and life with hard work and sweat.
On July 27, the highest temperature in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, exceeded 40 ° C on that day, becoming the first provincial capital city to exceed 40 ° C this year.
Since July, the Federation of Trade Unions of Fuzhou City has continued to carry out special sympathy activities for the prevention of summer heat and cooling.
It is reported that from July to August this year, the trade unions at and above the county level in Fuzhou will invest 8 million yuan in the city to carry out a special summer-cooling campaign, focusing on frontline workers in urban sanitation, public transportation, key engineering construction, postal delivery and other industries. The committee's role is to urge enterprise units to standardize labor production under high temperature weather, ensure the health of employees' workplaces, etc., and help enterprise units to prevent epidemic, reduce temperature and promote production.
As the temperature continues to rise, the national electricity load and daily power generation have exceeded the historical peak, and the power industry has ushered in the key period of "peak summer".
In recent days, frontline personnel of the power supply bureau in Baoan District of Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province, are still working under the hot sun to ensure the safety of residents.
The two power supply personnel, wearing long-sleeved protective clothing, helmets and heavy insulated gloves on their hands, were sent to mid-air by an insulated boom truck to carry out live operations.
The workers who came down from the lifting platform were covered with sweat, and the sweat had soaked through the clothes.
While ensuring that users in the area feel at ease with electricity, the Baoan Power Supply Bureau also makes every effort to do a good job of summer employee labor protection and summer cooling, rationally and evenly arrange outdoor construction operations, improve operating conditions, and shorten continuous operating time.
All power supply stations are equipped with emergency medicine boxes to provide employees with general labor protection supplies and more than 20 kinds of drugs such as Xia Sang Ju granules and cooling oil.
Green bean soup, chrysanthemum tea, patchouli qi water, dragon tiger people Dan, cool oil, more breathable summer uniforms... I visited and found that many outdoor workers such as express brothers, traffic police, sanitation workers have received the company or street community organizations to provide summer prevention materials and drugs.
In addition, the service stations that can drink water, summer vacation and rest also give care to outdoor workers.
On July 27, Jinchuan District, Jinchang City, Gansu Province, held a "summer to send cool" activity and outdoor workers' station award ceremony at the door of the Jinchang Agricultural Commercial Bank on Huanhuan Road.
The ceremony marked the opening of 26 "outdoor workers' stations" in accordance with the standards of "six one" (a bronze logo, a set of sofa coffee table, a water dispenser, a microwave oven, a mobile phone charging pile, a toilet place). Workers provide warm heart services and build a harbor of love.
In June this year, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions issued the Notice on Doing a Good Job in 2021, requiring trade unions at all levels to make doing a good job in the labor protection of workers in high-temperature and hot weather operations an important part of the trade unions' service and protection of workers' rights and interests.
According to the National Federation of Trade Unions' rights and interests protection minister Su Bin in July 22 held a "trade union care for outdoor workers" press conference, according to incomplete statistics, so far, trade unions at all levels integrated social resources, self-construction, co-construction and other ways, has built 78217 outdoor workers service stations, a total investment of 938 million yuan, covering more than 59 million people who serve migrant workers as the main body of outdoor workers.
Implementation of paid leave to pay high temperature allowance
Old tree birds, clouds roll and wave.
The mountains are lush with green trees, the streams are shallow, and only the sound of cicadas indicate that this is a midsummer July day.
Recently, Mr. Yang, a citizen of Chongqing, took his annual leave to take his father to the four hills in the city for summer vacation.
Wangxiangtai waterfall fell from the highest place, water flowers flapping face, bring the unique cool in the forest. "than in the air-conditioned room, the old man still prefer to walk around."
The mountains are cool, breathe fresh air, and proper outdoor activities are good for the old man's body. "Mr. Yang told the author, using the opportunity of paid leave to take his family to avoid the summer in the hottest time of the year, he has planned for a long time.
Entering the "three volts", hot and humid, more people choose to take vacation and summer vacation.
The regulations, which have been in force since 2008, stipulate that workers who have worked continuously for more than one year shall enjoy paid annual leave, and workers shall enjoy the same salary income during the annual leave as during the normal period of work.
Employees who have completed one year of work or less than 10 years of work shall have five days of annual leave; those who have completed 10 years or less shall have 10 days of annual leave; and those who have completed 20 years shall have 15 days of annual leave.
National statutory holidays and rest days are not counted as annual leave.
In addition to the implementation of paid leave, workers in hot weather also enjoy a number of guarantees in accordance with the law.
In June 2012, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Affairs and other four departments formulated the "summer cooling measures management measures", in the high temperature weather, the employer should according to the production characteristics and specific conditions, take reasonable arrangements of working hours, rotation, appropriate increase in the high temperature working environment workers rest time and reduce labor intensity, reduce high temperature outdoor work and other measures.
Workers who work at high temperatures are entitled to post allowances in accordance with the law.
Specifically, if the employer arranges workers to engage in outdoor open-air work in hot weather above 35 ° C and cannot take effective measures to reduce the temperature of the workplace to below 33 ° C, it shall issue a high temperature allowance to the workers and include it in the total salary.
The high temperature allowance standard shall be formulated by the provincial human resources and social security administration department in conjunction with relevant departments, and adjusted in due course according to the situation of social and economic development.
In June this year, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security issued a notice to increase the Guangdong high temperature allowance to 300 yuan per person per month, such as the number of days to convert the high temperature allowance, 13.8 yuan per person per day.
This standard is doubled from the 150 yuan / month standard in 2012, which will directly benefit 300,000 front-line sanitation workers and more than 3 million construction workers, and increase the high temperature allowance for front-line workers.
In order to reduce the impact of continuous high temperature weather on workers' work and health, the Fujian Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security issued a notice recently, requiring all employers to make scientific and reasonable arrangements for work, pay high temperature subsidies in full, and must not take the way of summer cooling drinks offset.
For high temperature allowance, it is calculated according to the actual high temperature days of 12 yuan / day in May, and 260 yuan / month from June to September or 12 yuan / day according to the actual high temperature days.
The relevant person in charge of the labor inspection department of the Fujian Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Affairs said that in addition to the provision of high temperature allowance, all employers should scientifically and reasonably arrange work according to production characteristics and specific conditions, and take appropriate measures to increase the rest time of workers and reduce outdoor work during high temperature to ensure safe production.
Planting trees to make green spray to create a cool city
On the Second and Third Ring Road in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, one can't see the steel and cement of the modern city, and instead it is a verdant green.
Ms. Jin, who lives on the edge of the third ring, will pass this "urban forest" formed by mountain tigers at work every day.
"A piece of green oil, when you see it, it feels very cool.
Sometimes traffic jams, just under the shade to stop for a while, not in a hurry. "Ms. Jin sighed to the author:" The greening of the city will indeed affect the mood, more green, you will feel the city's cool more, the summer heat less. "
It is reported that the climbing tiger has a long life cycle and is easy to grow, and climbing on a cement viaduct can reduce the temperature of the exposed wall by 3 ° C to 6 ° C.
At present, more than 190,000 square meters of climbing tigers have been planted on 4,280 piers of the Second and Third Ring Road in Chengdu, and more than half of the piers have reached a greening height of 8 to 12 meters, which is like a green waterfall.
The urban heat island effect is obvious, in order to cool the city and create a livable environment for residents, various ways have been made to create a cool city.
In Beijing, Gongdeji Temple Park, which opened at the end of June, is located in Haidian District, Beijing, and is the "Three Mountains and Five Gardens" (a general term for the cultural heritage of various historical periods represented by the imperial gardens of the Qing Dynasty in the northwestern suburbs of Beijing).
Three mountains refer to Xiangshan, Yuquan Mountain, Wanshou Mountain, and five gardens refer to Jingyi Garden, Jingming Garden, Summer Palace, Yuanming Garden, and Changchun Garden.)
The core area of the historical and cultural scenic spot. In the evening, the sunset is dyed with red sky, and the people in the park are gradually increasing.
Ms. Qi, who lives nearby, brought her children to the park and said, "My family lives nearby and I often come here recently. It is very comfortable to come in in the summer."
Gongdeji Park covers an area of about 10 hectares, which is full of trees and lush flowers, overlooking from the air, like a green jewel inlaid between the "three mountains and five gardens".
According to reports, different from ordinary parks, Gongdeji Park adheres to the urban forest concept in its design and carries out large-scale "green".
The park not only retains the tall trees with good growth, but also adds a variety of evergreen trees, deciduous trees and herbs to create a well-defined and distinctive urban forest space, providing a pleasant summer retreat for the surrounding residents.
Stereoscopic greening is also one of the important forms of urban greening.
In addition to the ecological role and the function of beautifying the city, in the aspect of building energy conservation, three-dimensional greening landscape also plays a small role.
It is reported that in the hot summer, there is a three-dimensional green surface and no three-dimensional green surface temperature difference of up to 7 ° C or more, indoor temperature also has a temperature difference of 3 ° C to 5 ° C.
In June this year, Shanghai's Jingan District Greening Management Center completed the construction of green walls and flower boxes on Chengdu North Road and Xinzha Road.
On the green wall of Chengdu North Road, huge walls are decorated with different colors and different looks of plants, and a series of representative building silhouettes are outlined on the wall with LED lights.
In Xinzha Road, the combination of flower boxes, rattan and hanging flower boxes adds color to the monotonous wall surface.
By the end of 2020, Shanghai has built a total of 475,000 square meters of three-dimensional greening and more than 30,000 elevated columns, which has greatly improved the quality of the urban ecological environment and brought a hint of coolness to the citizens in midsummer.
In Chongqing, the spray cooling method came in handy.
Recently, the traditional landscape area of Shancheng Lane in Chongqing has opened a spray cooling system, which brings cool feeling to the residents through extremely fine white water mist, and alleviates the discomfort caused by the heat.
People walk under the spray, the mist continuously spits out, and the moist water mist falls on the exposed skin, absorbs the heat in the air and vaporizes, which brings a refreshing moist feeling.
It is reported that when the temperature reaches more than 30 ° C, the spray cooling device spray for 15 minutes, the temperature will be reduced by more than 6 ° C within a range of 3 meters.
Previously, Chongqing's Liangjiang New Area also built a "smart cool road".
When the outside temperature reaches the set value and infrared sensing pedestrians approach, the intelligent cooling system will automatically start spraying and cooling, forming a cool, pleasant, healthy and environmentally friendly ecological corridor.
Walking in such an environment, people can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountain city, but also enjoy the cozy feeling of cool water under the scorching sun.
(This newspaper interns Zhang Yiran, Yang Yichen, Guo Shiying, Zhang Xinyue also contributed to this writing)
(Editor: Sun Hongli, Yang Di)
Related News

Title:

Content: "Living walls": near the hospital on the Kharkov highway planted climbing grapes
On the territory of the medical town on the Kharkivske highway, 121 planted Vichi grape bushes.
This was announced by the interim acting chairman of the Darnitsa RSA Nikolai Kalashnik.
Medical workers of the National People ’ s Congress “Academy of Human Health ” joined the vertical gardening within the framework of the“ City of Living Walls ” initiative.
Recall that the “living walls ” of Vichy grapes are already in all areas of Kiev.
Among the advantages of this solution are cleaner air, comfortable indoor temperature in the summer and noise protection.
Photo: Nikolay Kalashnik
Published: 11 August 2023

Title:

Content: HealthOther News

Plants that clean the air in the house within 8 hours

SHAFAQNA SCIENCE- Scientists at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in Australia, who investigated whether a vertical wall system fitted with indoor plants could mop up a mix of harmful compounds found in petrol vapors.

“Not only can plants remove the majority of pollutants from the air in a matter of hours,” says UTS environmental scientists, “they remove the most harmful petrol-related pollutants from the air most efficiently.”

They tested the Ambius vertical plant wall system using nine purpose-built perspex boxes containing four plants or none at all. A small volume of petrol was vaporized inside the chambers, and researchers measured the gas levels.

Source: sciencealert

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They can be a valuable addition to existing buildings, providing natural insulation, reducing internal climate consumption, and improving air quality.

Title:

Content: LIFE ・ Classic ／ The concept of wreath architecture on the New York skyline comes from the “terraces ” of Asia
Courtesy of Lilly Tower.
(Courtesy of Studio Vural)
Journalist Tsai Wai-ju / Comprehensive Report
The skyline of Manhattan will take on a new look, a Gothic tower building dating back to 1923, will become an arc skyscraper, more specifically the appearance of the building is covered with vegetation, but they are not only decorative, there is no fear of tall gardeners to update the plant regularly, it is a vertical garden outside the building, and the concept is from the Asian terraced system.
Studio Vural, who conceived the “Lilly tower, ” says the shape of the building is like a terraced field in some parts of Asia, one of the most extreme examples of the use of land, where every inch of fertile soil is important, and the skyscraper next to Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan is expected to bring a hint of green to the sky.
The Lilly building will be made of three layers of glass and partially covered with vegetation. The planting system will be made of light concrete supported by steel frames. It is a plant that can grow well in both soil and acidity. It will wither the plant if it is well drained.
The flowers are red, yellow, and orange, meaning that in the spring New York will see a field of flowers in skyscrapers, and may be very appetizing to urban gardeners, who are now more and more in the city.
However, combining the building with plants is not only a beautiful function, in addition to beautiful flower fields and contributing to the good urban air, it is also a low-energy design, natural insulation can allow the building to reduce the internal consumption of the climate, in addition, Lilly Building is also a passive building, using a small amount of energy to maintain a comfortable internal environment.
The heat of the sun will flow through the large glass, and the fresh air will enter through the open windows of the residential section.
Heating and cooling will be provided by the geothermal system, the heat exchanger helps to minimize energy loss, and the plants on the outer walls provide heat preservation and insulation. According to the design, the building has 21 floors for commercial space and 18 floors for residential use.
In any case, we all welcome the emergence of more energy-efficient, sustainable skyscrapers, not to mention lilies in the spring, and beautiful greenery in other seasons to breathe for the people of the city.
Key words:
LIFE, Classic, Architecture, Passive Architecture
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Green walls can also be used in conjunction with other sustainable design elements, such as solar shading and renewable energy systems, to achieve net-zero energy targets.

Title:

Content: Expo 2020 Dubai

Expo 2020 Dubai: Singapore pavilion integrates nature within urban environments

WAM/Abu Dhabi
Filed on August 26, 2021
Source: Expo 2020 website

Green architecture to embody ethos of sustainable development

The Singapore pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai puts green architecture at the forefront to help visitors appreciate the benefits and possibilities of integrating nature within our urban environments.

Layered with a showcase of greenery, digital solutions and art, the pavilion exemplifies Singapore's vision of becoming a City in Nature, and ethos of sustainable development via innovative and impactful urban solutions.

Yap Lay Bee, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Singapore pavilion and Group Director, Architecture & Urban Design Group at the Urban Redevelopment Authority, said, "The Singapore Pavilion demonstrates the potential to push the envelope to integrate nature, architecture and technology through various design strategies and digital elements.

"We wish to invite visitors to contemplate their relationship with nature as they explore the pavilion's green, digital ecosystem and its artistic representation of the pavilion's integrated system of greenery, water and energy management. In doing so, visitors will be able to appreciate the challenges in realising the Singapore pavilion, and the ways we can co-exist with our natural and built environment, where both people and ecologies are cared for."

The pavilion takes into account the local environment within its Rainforest Cone and the Flower Cone areas to sustain rainforest plants. The growth of the multitude of plant varieties despite the ground conditions demonstrates the possibility for such lush landscapes to thrive in different environments around the world while using renewable resources.

The pavilion also capitalises on technology to augment bold landscaping design. Caring for the varieties of plants within the pavilion is no easy feat, especially those on the curved green walls of the pavilion's iconic cones. To address this challenge, three prototype climbing robots will traverse the green walls around the Flower Cone to inspect the health of the plants, as well as to collect environmental data to monitor the performance of the pavilion's systems.

Visitors are invited to participate in a generative artwork at the Galleria that allows them to visualise the performance of the pavilion's integrated ecosystem and how it impacts the environment. The customised planting palette and innovative technological applications used in water and energy management are design strategies that enable the Singapore pavilion to achieve its net-zero energy target.

Preparations for the Singapore pavilion are at the final phase. Landscaping works have wrapped up and finishing touches are being made to the digital exhibits ahead of its opening on 1st October 2021. Various elements of the Singapore pavilion experience will also be presented on online platforms, given the current travel restrictions and safe management measures.

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Net-Zero Energy & Net-Zero Carbon: Design Strategies to Reach Performance Goals

Net-Zero Energy & Net-Zero Carbon: Design Strategies to Reach Performance Goals

As the effects of climate change intensify across the world, the AEC industry is shifting toward green building to effectively address the climate crisis. In 2020, members of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) overwhelmingly approved a resolution making environmental stewardship the organization’s top priority. Since then, steady progress has been achieved to develop a Climate Action Plan, evolve the Framework for Design Excellence, and increase participation in the 2030 Commitment. The building and construction sector is responsible for 36% of energy consumption, 38% of energy related carbon emissions, and 50% of resource consumption globally. These percentages are expected to double in total footprint by 2060, exacerbating the negative effects of climate change on the environment. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2021 Report warns of increasingly extreme heatwaves, droughts and flooding, and a key temperature limit being broken in just over a decade. The world must act fast to avoid these catastrophic events, and decarbonizing the built environment is a major step in the right direction.

Many government organizations and climate-conscious entities are pushing for all new buildings, developments, and renovations to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2040. Architects, engineers, and all parties involved in the building design process must begin implementing sustainable strategies into their workflows to achieve these goals and make a significant impact in the fight against climate change. In this e-book, we outline the differences between net-zero energy and net-zero carbon and provide key design strategies to help architects and engineers meet performance targets.

What is Net-Zero Energy (NZE)?

Net-Zero Energy refers to the ability of a building to offset the amount of energy required to build and operate throughout its lifetime. A building can be designed toward net-zero and offset its energy use in three ways:

  1. Producing energy onsite via equipment like solar panels or wind turbines.

  2. Accounting for its energy use through clean energy production offsite.

  3. Reducing the amount of energy required through design optimization.

These are typically complementary strategies, with the first option directly linked to the initial costs of the building design. Achieving NZE is not technically dependent on the building being efficient, but the most effective and cost-efficient strategy to achieve NZE is reducing the energy load and then utilizing renewable energy to offset the remaining energy use requirements. Optimizing the energy requirements of a properly designed building exponentially helps reduce power demand and the amount of power to produce or offset.

What is Net-Zero Carbon

Achieving NZC requires the reduction and offsetting of non-sustainable building materials and construction practices that cause high carbon emissions, like specifying building materials with low kgCO2e values. Similar to achieving NZE, the reduction of carbon has an exponential effect on a building design that is net-zero carbon.

Net-Zero Carbon = Total Carbon Emitted - Total Carbon Avoided

Design Strategies

Reduction is the overarching design approach for all net-zero strategies as it directly affects the energy/carbon required to offset later. Reducing the energy demand on a building provides the appropriately sized system for building operations and can lead to large cost savings. Reducing embodied carbon through material decisions often results in enhanced occupant experience by decreasing harmful off-gassing from chemicals that affect the occupants' productivity.

It’s important to note that rule-of-thumb concepts are not enough to make a net-zero building, as each building and its conditions are unique and optimization is the key to striking the neutral-balance. However, there are common design strategies that help teams understand the impact of their decisions. Applying any number of the below strategies during your design process will guide your work toward energy and embodied carbon reduction and keep your project on track toward net-zero.

1. Passive Strategies

Designing with passive strategies is about understanding the environmental constraints of the site and designing a response that does not require active mechanical systems. Examples include using ambient energy sources to cool, heat, shade, or ventilate a building space. Working with the existing natural conditions without requiring added electrical load helps decrease the energy required to offset for a net-zero building. Environmental qualities have a critical role in design to know what is specifically needed to minimize heat transfer through the building envelope (exterior walls), which will then rely less on mechanical systems to maintain occupant comfort levels. The challenge with designing for passive strategies is that they must be incorporated in the early stages of the process to be effective.

2. Solar Shading

Solar shading is a form of solar control that can be used to optimize the amount of solar heat gain and visible light that is admitted into a building. Solar Shading is a powerful passive strategy that if fully utilized can have a massive impact on a building’s overall performance and space quality. A good way to think about this is to consider that the heat added to the inside of your building has to be adjusted to stay at set temperature levels, typically by an HVAC system. The less the mechanical system has to work, the less energy you need to use, and the more likely your design will reach net-zero. Solar shading encompasses a large scope of design strategies, like WWR (Window to Wall Ratio),  Glazing Placement, Fenestration Performance, Shading Elements, among others.

Using this strategy, designers can reduce energy use and have a strong impact on the thermal and visual comfort of the occupants by preventing overheating and glare during sunny seasons in the year. However, the effectiveness of the shading strategy is dependent on multiple factors, including shading device type, depth, context, and building program.

3. Active Strategies

A building's energy use refers to the energy required to operate and sustain the project once it's occupied. The metric is expressed as the energy per square foot per year (kBtu/ft2/yr), or as it is more commonly known, as the EUI or energy use intensity. By calculating the energy a building consumes annually, designers can better predict the project’s cost as it is directly linked to a building's energy consumption.

EUI breakdown includes heating, cooling, lighting, equipment, fans, pumps, and hot water, representing the mechanical system of a functional building. A more detailed overview of what is covered in these categories can be found here.

The goal is to increase the efficiency of the active system to decrease the demand for energy overall. Showing a reduction of energy use is helpful, but to reach net-zero energy the optimal overall solution is crucial as every project has many variables and entities involved that don't all have net-zero as the top priority. Optimizing for energy reduction and initial cost helps the whole team quickly reach an informed decision on the best route forward with the best performing options at the table. Optimization is the core powerhouse of reaching net-zero building design.

4. Renewable Energy

On-site renewable energy is another essential tool for reaching net-zero. Off-site renewable energy is also essential but requires live operational data from the source energy (power plant) and is thus outside the scope of building design. Providing energy generation is the final tool for net-zero energy design and is possible through technologies that produce electricity, like wind or photovoltaic "solar" panels. The strategy is simple: Use natural energy sources like the wind or the sun to generate electricity.

For a building to reach net-zero, this strategy must produce enough electricity to cover what it uses annually. For example, solar panels are an assembly of silicon cells mounted in a frame with wiring that helps absorb and convert sunlight into usable electricity. By calculating the total square feet of panels and the type of panels used, designers can calculate the annual power generation of the building project. Power generation is the final piece of building design to reach both net-zero-energy and net-zero-carbon status.

To achieve positive results, it is necessary for the designers and all the actors present in the construction to have access to information and data so that they can choose the best solutions and strategies for each situation. In this sense, analysis and simulations are valuable resources. Cove.tool’s drawing.tool is a free modeling platform that supports the designer during design, analysis and prototyping. In addition, the company is launching the International Architecture Design Competition: Carbon Positive Affordable Housing to discover design ideas that can be replicated in multiple neighborhoods, while fighting climate change and mitigating the housing crisis.

Learn more about the tool in our catalog.

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Cite: "Net-Zero Energy & Net-Zero Carbon: Design Strategies to Reach Performance Goals" 16 Dec 2021. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/972553/net-zero-energy-and-net-zero-carbon-design-strategies-to-reach-performance-goals> ISSN 0719-8884

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By incorporating green walls into building design, architects and engineers can create sustainable, energy-efficient, and healthy buildings that provide a range of benefits for both the environment and human health.

Title:

Content: World Environment Day: Nature inspired design for sustainable development

Three dimensions of sustainability is important to keep in mind while adopting new products, utilities or services having advanced technologies.

By Shashikant Pawar,

‘Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed’, said Mahatma Gandhi. When we ponder upon this statement, we understand there are many aspects implicit in it-progressing while living in harmony with nature, respecting rights of the present and future generations etc. We find similar ideas echoed in the United nations 2030 agenda for sustainable development goals which revolve around people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership. ‘Sustainability’ is a comprehensive term. It has three primary dimensions: the economic, social and environmental. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind these aspects while adopting new products, utilities or services having advanced technologies. It becomes all the more important for engineers and technology leaders to consciously design the newer products and technologies such that they are sustainable. Sustainable building design is one such area on which we shall focus our attention to in this article.

We are attracted to the malls and commercial buildings with dazzling glass panes on all sides due to the aesthetics. However, for tropical countries like India, this design becomes the source of additional thermal load on the central air conditioning system, especially in summer, when the maximum temperature in many places easily cross 40 degree Celsius. During the daytime, the shortwave solar radiations pass through the glass panes and heat the interior. The heated interiors start emitting the longwave thermal radiations which cannot escape through the glass and get trapped inside. The thermal radiations get reflected off the glass walls, roof etc. and heat the inside air. This essentially is the ‘Greenhouse effect’ which we often experience when we park our cars in the sunshine for a longer time. A simple solution many of us know is to keep the car doors open for some time and let the heated air go out before switching on the air conditioner. In the scenario wherein almost 50% increase in the energy consumption worldwide has been predicted for the period between 2018 and 2050, and in hot-humid climates, cooling systems contribute to about 65 to 70% of the electricity consumption in air-conditioned malls, naturally ventilated open-air malls designed according to the local climatic conditions can reduce the energy consumption significantly.

The Rajkumari Ratnavati girl’s school with a capacity of 400, built in the kanoi village of Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan is one of the recent examples of sustainable building design. It is an ‘Oasis’ in the Thar desert in every sense of the term. The school was conceptualized by CITTA founder Michael Daube, and designed by US-based architect Diana Kellogg. The building uses locally available yellow sandstone which due to its properties of higher heat capacity and porosity, cools down during night. The air coming in its contact during the daytime is thus cooled, and creates the thermal comfort. The oval shaped building has open courtyard to promote natural ventilation which serves as the play area for the kids. The solar panels on top of the building work as a canopy providing shade while simultaneously providing the electrical energy for the building.

In India the sustainable design of the buildings are promoted by the green building awards. The predominant green rating frameworks in India are GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment), IGBC (Indian Green Building Council), LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), and BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency). Typically, the buildings undergo a verification and review process and are awarded points. According to these points they get Silver, Gold or Platinum rating. ITC Green Centre, Gurgaon, Suzlon One Earth, Pune, Patni

Knowledge Center, Noida, Cisco Building, Bangalore, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, New Delhi are some of the projects which have received the Platinum rating.

As mentioned above, engineering design should cater to many other aspects apart from just the functionality, if it has to be sustainable. One of the approaches to achieve this is to study the natural systems of similar utility, carefully, and mimicking them. Bio-inspired designs are therefore gaining more importance nowadays. The design of a shopping center and commercial office block, Eastgate Centre in central Harare, Zimbabve, by the architect Mick Pearce is a classic example of design of natural ventilation of the building inspired by cooling system of termite mounds.

In summary, living in harmony with nature sustainably, which is the theme of world environment day 2022, requires a much larger perspective than the traditional engineering problem solving approach and we all must gear up this new challenge by becoming more adaptive and open.

(The author is a faculty, Plaksha University. Views expressed are personal)

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Title:

Content: Department of Architecture Engineers: Green architecture reduces the consumption of resources and improves the environment
Saturday ، 14 January 2023 10: 01 PM
A side of the meeting.
I wrote a frown verse.
Leave a comment and read the comments of the readers.
On Saturday, January 14, 2023, the Architectural Engineering Division, headed by Dr. Walaa Nour, organized a seminar entitled "Green Architecture", coordinated for the seminar and moderated by Eng. Iman Ragheb Al-Sayed, Chairman of the Commission on Sustainable Development of the Division.
In her opening speech, Dr. La Nour thanked the lecturers for their interaction with the Architectural Engineering Division and their keenness on their presence and involvement with their colleagues and children members of the Syndicate, especially the young engineers, and praised the effort exerted by the Commission on Sustainable Development of the Division and its President and the good choice of the theme of today ’ s seminar.
Nour said that green architecture respects the resources and natural beauty of the land, and provides the needs of its users, as it leads to maintaining their health, increasing their production, and satisfying their spiritual and material needs, by taking care of the application of proven strategies for the sustainability of the environment and development.
She pointed out that it takes into account the reduction of consumption of non-renewable resources, the improvement of the natural environment, the reduction or removal of toxic harmful substances, in addition to the use of building materials and products that reduce the destruction of the environment.
For her part, Eng. Iman Ragheb Al-Sayed stressed that green architecture is a global trend, and has become a major demand in the current era, not a kind of luxury and luxury, especially after humanity has reached a critical stage in the development of human culture with regard to the environment and climate change.
For his part, Dr. Ahmed Abul-Saadat said that today ’ s event informs young engineers about the latest developments in the world of green architecture, which took place in some facilities.
The first lecture was entitled "Green Architecture in Egypt" and was delivered by A.D.M.
Adel Yassin Mahram - The concept of green architecture, where the lecturer stressed that human comfort in the building he occupies is linked to his harmony with the building and this is what the green entity means in the sense that it does not harm and does not bear harm, pointing out that since the late architect Hassan Fathi called for "architecture and environment" called for building in a manner compatible with society and the environment.
Adel Muharram explained that the idea of calling for green architecture in the early 1990s witnessed the presentation of Ain Shams University with visions and works taken by the Ministry of Housing, meaning that the ministry applied academic thought to basic traditions in construction in Egypt to offer the homeland the green village and the green city, which was later called the Green Pyramid.
The lecture also shed light on some of the components and characteristics associated with the green world, and presented what has already existed in the hospital building since its inception.
In the third lecture given by M.D.
“Noha Mohamed Ezzeldin ”, which was entitled“ Evaluation Criteria for Rationalization and Production of Energy in Hospitals ”, pointed out that the energy component in hospitals consumes from 25 to 40% of the total hospital expenses, so attention should be paid to replacing this energy to alternative energy and directing the difference to medical and therapeutic expenses, explaining the importance of applying the hospital design code.
During the lecture, Noha presented her personal experience through her PhD thesis on the design of the first energy efficient and productive hospital in the Administrative Capital as a model to be followed and can be applied in all its procedures.
At the end of her lecture, Noha Ezzeldin recommended making any hospital an energy efficient list through “smart technology ”, presenting local and international examples that addressed and succeeded in this direction.
At the end of the seminar, Prof. M. Walaa Nour, Head of the Architecture and Engineering Division Iman Ragheb, Chairman of the Sustainable Development Committee of the Division, presented the shield of the Syndicate to the lecturers and take commemorative photos with them in recognition of their interaction with the Division.
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Title:

Content: Homes and gardens

ECO-ROLES WE SHOULD PLAY

Ecofriendly construction | Photo Credit: Vaishali Bhatia

A common experience faced by architects trying to abide the rules lies in insisting on building bye laws, when the owners ask ‘look everyone is violating the byelaws, including the law makers - why not us with a small 30x40 site, costing in Crores?’ Of course, most architects give up and let the owners have their say, often by the fear of losing a project.

Yes, finally we gain a project, but it is at the cost of nature. Paradoxically, then we write and talk about green buildings, green-house gas emissions, global warming, climate change and sustainability! This paradox persists because we all come with diversity of aspirations, but do not own eco-responsibilities at our level. What are the potentials and possibilities we can shoulder? Can we have a satisfying experience of working in harmony or will we perpetually disagree with each other, downing the best possible ideas? Who are the four pillars of an ecological project?

Owners / promoters: Bangalore is trending today in larger houses, luxurious apartments and fancy commercial complexes. Of course, affordability matters, but there are many people who can pay for them. Is it possible to promote and own smaller buildings with judiciously built areas? Also the desire to ape the west with architecture generated by the computer software with neither cultural nor climatic fit needs to be relooked at. Prestige, image and social visibility are part of our psyche, yet being contextual is imperative if we have to live nature.

Engineers: Construction contributes up to one third of green-house gas emissions, which can be considerably reduced by adopting alternate materials and structures. Civil and structural engineers can play a major role here by not only suggesting, but also by convincing owners and architects towards eco designs. Minimising cement, reducing steel, shifting to designing for compression, using natural materials and lowering structural costs and such others can benefit all.

Designers / Architects: Unknowingly, architects influence promoters and owners towards modern ideas, manufactured materials and maintenance costs. Of course we need them, but what if they are leading to resource consumption and waste generation? Is it possible to achieve functionality, stability, longevity and beauty without the falsehood of novelty and modernity? Should the identity of architects be more important than sustainability? Many architects and institutions have proved the validity of alternate ideas, so the road ahead should be to reach out such judicious ideas to the society at large.

Builders: The last among this list of four stack holders, builders and contractors are the most important players in the act of sustainability. Without their coordination and cooperation towards ecologically sensitive projects, nothing much can be achieved. Right from enthusing the owners, agreeing with the engineers, cooperating with the designers, coordinating the project and empowering the construction team, they hold the key.

Generally, the private benefits tend to over-rule the public good. To achieve the public good, we need interdisciplinary actions, not mere meetings and seminars with people from diverse backgrounds where we hold onto our different opinions.  We need to accept others and cooperate with all, not argue and contradict on personal opinions.

It is time we walk the ecological walk and be able to talk the sustainable walk.

(The author is an architect working on eco-friendly designs and can be contacted by mail varanashi@gmail.com)k

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Printable version | May 20, 2022 10:45:14 am | https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/homes-and-gardens/eco-roles-we-should-play/article65438538.ece

Green walls can be customized to suit different climates and environments, and can be designed to incorporate locally available materials and reduce the need for non-renewable resources.

They can also be used to provide thermal comfort and energy efficiency, making them a practical solution for building design.

Overall, green walls are a valuable component of sustainable building design, and can provide numerous benefits in terms of air purification, temperature regulation, and mental health impact.