Food Producing Facades Key to a Sustainable Future

Year 2023, , 15 - 38, 05.05.2023

Christopher Paul Leınınger

https://doi.org/10.55755/DepArch.2023.15

Abstract

The built environment uses substantial and increasing amounts of energy, contributing to Urban Heat Island effect, while population growth and urban development have outpaced food production globally. There is a growing trend to introduce green infrastructure into the built environment via green roofs, green facades, and urban agriculture. Research is limited, however, into the use of food producing plants being grown on a living façade to improve total building performance. The purpose of this research study was to test the assertion that food producing plants can be grown successfully in a vertical greenery system or green wall integrated into an existing commercial building façade. Specifically, this dissertation investigates the role of integrating food producing plants into a living facade to positively impact four outcomes: food production, thermal performance, air quality and rainwater management in a temperate climate.
This was a six-year long longitudinal research study. The findings from this study conclusively demonstrate that a maximum average production of 2.64 kilograms of produce per square meter of façade panel can be generated annually (0.54 lbs./ft2). The façade temperatures were reduced between 5.56oC-20.53oC (10oF-36.95oF) with approximately 20% reduction in cooling energy, reducing urban heat island. Airborne small particulates (PM2.5 )were reduced a maximum of 5.6% for the living facade compared to the control. An average of 14.26 liters of rooftop rainwater per square meter of facade per day (0.35 gal/ft2/day) was used for irrigation. In addition, observational studies revealed enhanced access to nature for building occupants, wildlife habitat and biodiversity.

Keywords

Building Performance, Green Infrastructure, Living Façade, Urban Agriculture, Urban Heat Island.

References

• 2030 Districts Network (2021). Pittsburgh 2030 District. Retrieved from 2030 Districts Network: https://www.2030districts.org/pittsburgh/about#:~:text=The%20Pittsburgh%202030%20District%20is,Lawrence%20Convention%20Center
• Akbari, H., Pomerantz, M., & Taha, H. (2001). Cool surfaces and shade trees to reduce energy use and improve air quality in urban areas. Solar Energy, 70(3), 295-310. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/S0038-092X(00)00089-X
• Alexandri, E., & Jones, P. (2008). Temperature decrease in an urban canyon due to green walls and green roofs in diverse climates. Building and Environment, 43(4), 480-493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.builden.2006.10.055
• American Lung Association (2020). State of the Air Pennsylvania: Allegheny. Retrieved from American Lung Association State of the Air: https://www.stateoftheair. org/city-rankings/states/pennsylvania/allegheny.html
• Anderson, G., & Bell, M. (2010). Heat waves in the United States: mortality risk during heat waves and effect modification by heat wave characteristics in 43
• U.S. Communities. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(2), 210-218. https:// www.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1002313
• ASi Controls (2014). Retrieved from What Drives Energy Use in Commercial Buildings: http://www.asicontrols.com/controlling-energy-costs-commercial-building/
• Coleman-Jensen, A., Rabbit, R., Gregory, C., & Singh, A. (2018). Household Food Security in the United States in 2018. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
• Connelly, M., Compton-Smith, J., Rousseau, N., & Huston, C. (2012). Rainwater Interception Capacity of Green Façades Final Report. British Columbia Institute of Technology, School of Construction and the Environment. Vancouver: BCIT Centre for Architectural Ecology.
• Covestro North America (2019). Covestro announces THINC30 lineup for 2019. Retrieved September 2019, from https://www.covestro.us/en/media/ news-releases/2019-news-releases/2019-04-23-thinc30-lineup
• Department for Professional Employees-AFL-CIO. (2020, January 10). The professional and technical workforce: by the numbers. Retrieved January 4, 2020, from https://www.dpeaflcio.org/factsheets/ the-professional-and-technical-workforce-by-the-numbers
• Dreiseitl, H. (2005, April 26). Planning, building and designing with water. Waterways, 92. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: Atelier Dreiseitl.
• EIA. (2020, January 10). Commercial buildings energy consumption survey 2003 data. Retrieved 2011, from Energy Information Administration: https://www.eia.gov/ consumption/commercial/data/2003/
• Energy Storage Center (2013, February 24). Reduction of Peak AC Demand. Retrieved from The ESA Blog: https://energystorage.org/reduction-of-peak-ac-demand/#:~:text=In%20many%20regions%20of%20the,demand%20(May%2DOctober)
• EPA. (2020, January 10). U.S. environmental protection agency smart growth local foods local places. Retrieved August 27, 2019, from https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/local-foods-local-places
• Eumorfopoulou, E. A., & Kontoleon, K. J. (2009). Experimental approach to the contribution of plant-covered walls to the thermal behaviour building envelopes. Building and Environment, 44, 1024-1038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2008.07.004
• Hahn, J. (2020, April 21). Sierra National Magazine of the Sierra Club. Retrieved from Nearly Half of the US Population is Breathing Dirty Air. https://www.sierraclub.org/ sierra/nearly-half-us-population-breathing-dirty-air-american-lung-association-state-of-the-air
• Hartkopf, V., Loftness, V., & Aziz, A. (2005). The Robert L. Preger Intelligent Workplace and the Building as Power Plant / Invention Works at Carnegie Mellon University. In D. Clements-Croome, Creating the Productive Workplace (pp. 324- 333). New York: Taylor & Francis. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate. net/publication/279190533_Creating_the_Productive_Workplace
• Huang, J., & Franconi, E. (1999). Commercial heating and cooling loads component analysis. University of California, Building Technologies Department. Berkeley: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
• Kew, B., Pennypacker, E., & Echols, S. (2014). Can greenwalls contribute to stormwater management? a study of cistern storage greenwall first flush capture. Journal of Green Building, 9(3), 85-99. Retrieved from http://meridian.allenpress.com/jgb/article-pdf/9/3/85/1765666/1943-4618-9_3_85.pdf
• Knauer, J. (2003). Water quality report. Pittsburgh, PA: Studio for Creative Inquiry Press.
• Kohler, M. (2008). Green facades a view back and some visions. Urban Ecosystems, 11(4), 423–436. https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s11252-008-0063-x
• Kontoleon, K., & Eumorfopoulou, E. (2010). The effect of the orientation and proportion of a plant-covered wall layer on the thermal performance of a building zone. Building and Environment, 45, 1287–1303. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j. buildenv.2009.11.013
• Loh, S. (2008). Living walls - a way to green the built environment. Environment Design Guide, TEC (26), 1-7.
• Lyle, J. T. (1994). Regenerative design for sustainable development. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
• Lynn, H. (2020, April 22). Report: Pittsburgh ranked 8th worst for air pollution among US cities. Retrieved from https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/ report-pittsburgh-ranked-8th-worst-for-air-pollution-among-us-cities/Content?oid=17179037
• Martensson, L. M., Wuolo, A., Fransson, A. M., & Emilsson, T. (2014). Plant performance in living wall systems in the Scandinavian climate. Ecological Engineering, 71, 610-614. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.07.027
• Nagle, L., Echols, S., & Tamminga, K. (2017). Food production on a living wall: Pilot study. Journal of Green Building, 12(3), 23-38. https://www.doi. org/10.3992/1943-4618.12.3.23
• P4 Pittsburgh. (2021). People, Planet, Place and Performance. Retrieved from https://www.2030districts.org/pittsburgh/about#:~:text=The%20Pittsburgh%202030%20District%20is,Lawrence%20Convention%20Center
• Perini, K., Bazzocchi, F., Croci, L., Magliocco, A. & Cattaneo, E. (2017). The use of vertical greening systems to reduce the energy demand for air conditioning, field monitoring in Mediterranean climate. Energy and Buildings, 143, 35-42. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.03.036
• Perini, K., Ottele, M., Giulini, S., Magliocco, A. & Roccotiello, E. (2017). Quantification of fine dust deposition on different plant species in a vertical greening system. Ecological Engineering, 100, 268-270. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j. ecolenj.2016.12.032
• Petit, T., Irga, P., Abdo, P. & Torpy, F. (2017). Do the plants in functional green walls contribute to their ability to filter particulate matter? Building and Environment, 125, 299-307. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2017.09.004
• Schmidt, M. (2009). Rainwater harvesting for mitigating local and global warming. Fifth Urban Research Symposium, Marseille, France. Retrieved from http://www.gebaeudekuehlung.de/URS2009Marseille.pdf
• Stec, W., Van Passen, A., & Maziarz, A. (2005). Modelling the double skin façade with plants. Energy and Buildings, 37, 419-427. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2004.08.008
• Sundaram, A. (2018, August 26). The Meal Gap: Thousands of Food Insecure’ Families are Forced to Make Tough Decisions Daily. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved from https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2018/08/26/food-stamps-snap-federal-aid-farm-bill-pittsburgh-hunger-meal-gap-food-insecurity/ stories/201807230106
• Tilley, D., Price, J., Matt, S., & Marrow, B. (2012). Vegetated Walls: Thermal and Growth Properties of Structured Green Facades. Final Report to Green Roofs for Healthy Cities-Green Walls Group. https://www.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24238.56646
• USDA. (2018). Food Security and Economic Assistance. Retrieved from Economic Research Service: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting- the-essentials/food-security-and-nutrition-assistance/#:~:text=The%20prevalence%20of%20food%20insecurity,food%20secure%20throughout%20the%20year.&text=Food%20insecurity%20 increased%20f
• US Department of Energy. (2021). Air Conditioning. Retrieved 1 16, 2021, from Energy Saver: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/home-cooling-systems/air-conditioning#:~:text=Air%20conditioners%20use%20about%206,into%20the%20 air%20each%20year
• USEPA. (2020). NAAQS Table. Retrieved from United States Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/criteria-air-pollutants/naaqs-table
• Wang, L., Gong, H., Liao, W., & Wang, Z. (2015). Accumulation of particles on the surface of leaves during leaf expansion. Science of the Total Environment, 532, 420-434. https://www.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.014
• Wong, N. H. (2009). Typologies of Vertical Greenery Systems. In T. P. Yok, K. Chiang, D. Chan, N. H. Wong, C. Yu, A. Tan, N. C. Wong, K. Chiang, & A. Tan (Eds.), Vertical Greenery for the Tropics (pp. 1-99). Singapore: Centre for Urban Greenery & Ecology. Retrieved April 15, 2011, from https://www.amazon.com/ Vertical-Greenery-Tropics-Alex-Tan/dp/9810839731
• World Health Organization (2004). Fruit and Vegetables for Health: Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Workshop. Kolbe, Japan. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43143/9241592818_eng.pdf;jsessionid=6157C24C4CBEBA2A9228072D86917961?sequence=1
• World Health Organization (2021, January 5). Health Topics. Retrieved from Air Pollution: https://www.who.int/health-topics/air-pollution#tab=tab_2