Urban Vertical Garden: ways to improve living conditions by applying green façades in buildings refurbishment at semi-arid climate

1- Enhanced Thermal Comfort:
- The application of green facades in buildings refurbishment in a semi-arid climate improves thermal comfort by reducing the surface temperature of the building envelope.
- The vertical gardens act as natural insulators, reducing heat gain and providing a cooling effect through evapotranspiration.
2- Improved Indoor Air Quality:
- Green facades contribute to better indoor air quality by acting as natural air filters, absorbing pollutants, and releasing oxygen.
- The presence of vertical gardens can help reduce the concentration of harmful gases and particulate matter, enhancing the overall health and well-being of occupants.
3- Mitigation of Urban Heat Island Effect:
- Urban areas in semi-arid climates often experience the urban heat island effect, leading to increased temperatures and energy consumption.
- Vertical gardens on building facades can help mitigate the urban heat island effect by reducing surface temperatures, shading buildings, and promote evaporative cooling.
4- Biodiversity Enhancement:
- Urban vertical gardens provide opportunities for biodiversity enhancement, even in semi-arid climates.
- The greenery attracts birds, insects, and other fauna, contributing to a more diverse urban ecosystem and supporting ecological balance.
5- Noise Reduction:
- Green facades have the potential to reduce noise levels within buildings, particularly for those located in busy urban areas.
- The combination of vegetation and growing media acts as a natural sound-absorbing barrier, diminishing external noise pollution and improving acoustic comfort.
6- Aesthetical and Psychological Benefits:
- Vertical gardens enhance the visual appeal of buildings, contributing to the beautification of urban areas and creating a pleasant living environment.
- The presence of greenery has been linked to psychological benefits, such as stress reduction, improved mood, and increased productivity.
7- Energy Efficiency:
- Green facades can contribute to energy efficiency by reducing the cooling load of buildings in a semi-arid climate.
- The shading provided by vertical gardens decreases the need for air conditioning, resulting in energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The publications of this research project were funded by the National Program of Research, Development, and Innovation aimed at Society Challenges, with the references BIA2016-77464-C2-1-R and BIA2016-77464-C2-2-R, under the National Plan for Scientific Research, Development, and Technological Innovation 2013-2016, by the Government of Spain.