Regulation of climate, energy demand and well-being in GLASbuilt structures by structurally integrated, vertical GREEN

The renovation of buildings will be a flagship of the “European Green Deal”. The duplication of the building sanitation rate is core. The novel Austrian Climate and Energy Program defines buildings as top-ranked targeting a sanitation rate of 3 %. Current strategies for climate change adaptation require a significant increase in greening of the building stock and of facades. Modern architecture rigorously applies glass for commercial and office buildings. Glass constructions are considered as highlights, however they have considerable impact on indoor and outdoor microclimate and stress comfort and wellbeing. Green retrofitting of glass facades and building fronts is currently a huge gap in greening of buildings, and is challenging: climbing organs of plants cannot accordingly adhere, climbing aids or hanging equipment require static reliability and are not apt for subsequent installation. Currently, there are no standard applications for retrofitting plant shaders and isolation of buildings available. GLASGrün aims for the development of innovative vertical greenery systems to apply to glass facades for outdoor shading. Test standards shall be designed, applied and monitored for microclimate and energy-relevant benefits. First-time social-science studies on perception and acceptance of vertical greening measures shall be carried out. The focus is laid on amendments, sanitation of stock of food trading providers and of inner-city new buildings with groundfloor commercial situations. GLASGrün generates quantitative data referring to energy, temperature and microclimate balances before and after implementation. The project further generates qualitative data on perception and acceptance referring to comfort and greening measures. GLASGrün elaborates a guide on constructive greening solutions, implementation procedures, maintenance management for potential system solutions. They will be scalable and transferable and serve as an economic base for future adaptation and retrofitting of buildings.