POTENTIALS OF RUNNING A LIVING WALL

Living Walls achieve increasing attention, since in situ and quick environmental improvements in the urban agglomeration seem to be just a matter of technique, money and policy. The key towards benefits from a Living Wall, such as the contribution to air quality, microclimate and alternate energy generation, lays in the plant productivity. A panel-system with Hedera helix ‘Woerner’ was analysed for its area and biomass production. Four modifications were considered: pilot plants have been installed for the expositions north and south and one half of each side was inoculated with Bacillus subtilis for stimulation. Samples of leaves were measured for Leaf Area to create a growth model. The potential of the surface of leaf stalks and sprouts needs to be considered as well and the area was calculated by applying innovative equations to the related lengths and widths. Estimating the Specific Green Area enables to formulate the total plant index, further called Green Area Index in this trial. Statistics showed no relevant differences between the analysed parameters, and Dry Matter. But the Specific Leaf and Sprout Area were significantly higher on exposition north. The total average Leaf Area Index was 6.9 and Green Area Index 8.0, so the whole area was about 15% increased.