GreenThermoWall (GTW) is an innovative vertical garden system with high thermal performance, applied by means of a drone system.
Thermal efficiency and innovationBenefits of vertical gardens in urban areas
Vertical gardens are nature-based solutions that offer numerous benefits in urban areas.
These include increasing biodiversity, reducing the heat island effect, improving VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) capture, providing optimal insulation properties and integrating nature into the city, especially in places where other solutions cannot be implemented.
However, the insulation capacity of conventional materials used in green walls is limited due to their low thermal performance, which requires the building to be pre-insulated before implementing green walls.
This situation limits the market for green walls to new buildings with existing thermal insulation systems.
Considering that 57% of all buildings in Europe were built before 1980 and 22% before 2000, periods in which energy efficiency was not a required standard, energy renovation activity represents a major opportunity for GTW walls in the next decade.
In light of climate change, an exponential growth of the market for energy renovation activities is expected due to unprecedented European investments in buildings, supported by new regulations and promoted by fiscal incentives from regional, national and European administrations within current renovation policies.
SingularGreen and INDRESMAT: Innovation and Sustainability
Taking into account these needs and market opportunities, SingularGreen and INDRESMAT have joined forces to offer GTW, combining their two disruptive technologies: the LeafSkin system with SAFE-PUR bio-polyurethane.
- Conventional green walls vs GreenThermoWall:
- LeafSkin’s planting process is similar to using a paint spray gun, which reduces installation time as plants do not need to be placed one by one.
- SAFE-PUR is a new type of polyurethane foam that overcomes the limited durability of polyurethane in outdoor conditions, while improving its fire safety performance (flammability and fire spread are reduced by approximately 30%, and smoke emission and toxicity levels are reduced by more than 80%).
- In addition, SAFE-PUR foam has a low carbon footprint, as it is made from 70-80% bio-based materials (oils, sugars, etc.), also integrating up to 15-20% recycled fillers that can be sourced locally.
Implementation of High Thermal Efficiency Vertical Gardens with Drone Technology
The implementation of thermally efficient vertical gardens is achieved through the integration of advanced technologies, such as the use of drones for the application of planting systems.
The GreenThermoWall system, which combines the LeafSkin planting process with SAFE-PUR polyurethane foam, allows for fast and efficient installation.
This innovative technology eliminates the need for costly lifting structures and significantly reduces installation time.
In addition, the drones ensure uniform and precise coverage, optimising the thermal efficiency of the vertical garden and guaranteeing optimal performance.
With these advances, vertical gardens not only become more accessible but also more effective in improving the urban environment and reducing energy consumption.
Competitive Advantages of GreenThermoWall
The combined technology offers significant advantages over competing solutions, including:
- High thermal insulation: New feature for green walls.
- Reduced application time and costs: Faster and more economical implementation.
- Circular economy approach: Improved acoustic damping, increased outdoor life and ease of material recycling.
- Drone compatibility: As two ‘sprayable’ technologies, GTW is compatible with drone spraying, eliminating the expense of lifting media for installation.
Circular Economy opportunities with GreenThermoWall
- Reduced carbon footprint: Use of fewer layers of material (1 instead of 4).
- Less material waste: Extended outdoor service life (35 years).
- Better recyclability: Easy to separate single layer material (>90%) by flotation in water from construction waste.
DigiCirc Project: Sustainable European Innovation
We developed GreenThermoWall in the framework of the DigiCirc call, a European project aiming to accelerate innovative proposals to make the European economy more sustainable.
For more information, visit DigiCirc.
