Vertical Farming Project
Green Transformation AS is honoured to work with the International Centre for Entrepreneurship in Wroclaw to develop products and services to grow the practice of Vertical Gardening, Vertical farming and other related products and services to enhance green infrastructure and the sustainability of the built environment.
The development is funded by a Grant form the Norwegian Fund through PARP.
International Center for Entrepreneurship, together with a Partner institution from Norway – Green Transformation AS, and a group of colleagues has got the grant from the Norwegian Fund, nr NORW.19.01.04-02-0046/20-001. The planned activities include the development and implementation of innovations in the area of: environmental technologies.
The objective of the project is the development of entrepreneurship and innovation in a company owned and operated by a woman with the participation of other women in pursuit of sustainable green business development objectives in cooperation with entities from Norway and with relevant Polish research and development centres of professional know-how.
The aim of the project is consistent with the general objective of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2020 and aligned with the aim and scope of the “Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation” Programme as well as those of the Grant Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs.
Working together for a green Europe
The art of vertical gardening and green walls
What is a Vertical Garden?
A Vertical garden is a type of garden where one take advantage of growing plants in a vertical direction. This can be done on standalone structures but is often incorporated on to walls of buildings. This is referred to as living walls or green walls. It is also possble to include edible plants, creating a vertical farm.
Vertical gardens can be constructed in many different ways, using a variety of materials such as special planters, trellises, or containers. They can be either indoor or outdoor and vary in size and complexity. Anything from small herb gardens, or a trellis of tomatoes on a balcony, to large multi-story installations.
Here are some well know international examples
The Bosco Verticale, Milan, Italy: This residential tower is covered in over 90 species of trees trees and 15,000 plants. The area is equivalent of a 3 hectare forest and absorbs 30 tons of carbon dioxide every year. In addition, it represents a wealth of biodiversity. The building has received several awards including the International Highrise Award 2014, the Best Tall Building Europe and the Best Tall Building Worldwide in 2015.
Santalaia, in Bogota features an 8-story residential building, covered with green walls. The Santalaia building is also using water from the apartments’ showers for irrigation. Another technical detail is humidity and radiation sensors to optimize water consumption as well as a water treatment plant so as not to have any water waste.
Benefits of Vertical Gardening
Vertical gardening has many benefits, and here is a few important ones:
It is already established knowledge that green infrastructure in Cities has a very positive effect on human health and wellbeing, as well as a number of positive effects for the environment. However Cities has limited space between building, so increasing green space necessitates being creative when increasing green infrastructure. In addition to the benefits for human health and the environment, there are also many commercial benefits in relation to implementing green walls and vertical gardens on buildings. Here is a few:
- Space-saving: Vertical gardens can be grown in tight spaces where traditional gardening is not possible.
- Improved air quality: Plants are known to purify the air by absorbing harmful pollutants and releasing oxygen.
- Aesthetic appeal: Vertical gardens can be visually appealing and add a natural element to indoor and outdoor spaces
- Improved insulation: They can help insulate buildings by reducing the amount of heat and cold that passes through walls
- Enhanced customer experience: Vertical gardens can enhance the customer experience by creating a more inviting and relaxing environment. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Improved air quality: Plants are known to purify the air by absorbing harmful pollutants and releasing oxygen. By improving air quality, vertical gardens can help create a healthier environment for employees and customers.
- Energy savings: Vertical gardens can help reduce energy costs by providing insulation and shade to buildings. This can lead to lower heating and cooling bills.
- Increased productivity: Studies have shown that exposure to plants can lead to increased productivity and creativity in the workplace. Installing a vertical garden in a commercial space can therefore lead to a more productive workforce.
- Marketing opportunities: Vertical gardens can be used as a marketing tool to attract customers and promote sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
In conclusion: Installing a vertical garden on buildings can increase its aesthetic appeal, enhance human wellbeing and productivity, provide environmentally attractive benefits, and thus lead to higher property values.
