Boost your LEED credits with decorative green walls

by Grant Leishman

Boost your LEED credits with decorative green walls

Including decorative green walls in your office design adds more than just a beautiful display. Green walls are healthy for you and the environment - and can improve your Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) score.

Now, more than ever, it’s vital for all of us to take whatever steps possible to lessen our impact on the environment. Green building plays an essential role in offsetting our carbon footprint  - which is why the US Green Building Council (USGBC) rates buildings according to their level of environmental responsibility. This rating is known as your LEED score.

LEED is an internationally recognised framework for sustainability via green building standards. The higher your LEED score, the more environmentally responsible your building is - this not only helps the planet, but increases the value of your real estate.


How do green walls benefit our health and the environment?

Decorative green walls are a stunning addition to both the inside or outside of your building. However, they’re so much more beneficial than simply sprucing up your design. Adding plants to your home and office space is beneficial to your health, the environment and your pocket. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.

How do green walls benefit our health and the environment?

There are two main ways that including decorative vertical gardens into your building will benefit the environment. These are:

 

1. A reduction in the urban heat island effect and smog.

Cities are known to be hotter than rural areas (by as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit) due to the high density of buildings and tarred roads, which absorb a large amount of heat. This phenomenon leads to higher energy bills as people tend to use air conditioners more frequently.

Plants help to lower temperatures (by up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit) and, in doing so, lessen the need for air conditioners, saving energy and reducing the heat island effect and saving you up to 20% on your electricity bills.

2. Cleans the air (both indoors and outdoors). 

 

  • By planting more greenery, you’ll be helping to cleanse the air of harmful toxins. Plants act as a filter to remove air pollutants like dust, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and other harmful toxins from the air. This helps to offset our carbon footprint, as well as creating a healthier environment for people to live in.
    • As we’ve mentioned before, people and plants have a naturally symbiotic relationship. Humans inhale Oxygen (O2) and exhale Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Plants absorb the CO2 during a process called photosynthesis (where they convert light into energy to help them grow) - turning it back into O2 again. In short, we rely on plants to provide us with clean air to breathe, and they rely on us to produce CO2 to help them survive and prosper.

    • The impact of plants on our health

    The University of Norway conducted a study on the health benefits of plants. They found that staff, in offices where plants were present, experienced a significant improvement in common ailments, including:
  • 32% reduction in fatigue
    •
  • 45% reduction in headaches
    •
  • 22% reduction in dry or sore throats
    •
  • 38% reduction in coughs
    •
  • 11% reduction in dry facial skin
    •
    The improvement in air quality also improved everyone’s attention span and level of relaxation. Having an increased number of plants nearby lead to staff that were happier, more motivated, more creative, and more productive.
    Here’s how including decorative vertical gardens in your office buildings will help boost your LEED score

    Lead categories | Credits and associated points that a green wall contributes towards

    So, what are you waiting for? Do your bit for mother nature by including more plants in your home and workplace with a stunning decorative green wall display. Not only will you be helping offset your carbon footprint, but you’ll enjoy the added health benefits, and energy and cost savings.


    Let our vertical garden experts answer all your questions about installing and maintaining your own green wall system.

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