Advantages and constraints of living green façade systems

Abstract

This paper comments on some technical aspects of living green façade systems, pointing out their advantages and constraints. This environmentally sustainable strategy for building construction and refurbishment is especially adequate for South oriented facades, more suitable for plant growing, contributing to reduce heat island effect, lower emissions and even a positive balance to buildings by absorbing CO2and liberating oxygen due to photosynthesis process. Green facades can also reduce visual impact from buildings on landscape. The use and appreciation of native flora in these systems should be valued. In this paper some examples of green facades are presented and commented on their structural and functional specifications.