 cooling buildings using green walls cooling buildings using green walls mr jeremy sauers a fourthyear architecture student in the faculty of engineering and technology has been involved in a project which focusses on the utilisation of vertical greenery systems also known as green walls within the context of guyana s hot climate green walls are systems that allow for vegetation to be grown on the outside facade of buildings or on interior walls themselves the types of plant that are normally used when constructing green walls are succulents ferns and ivies mr sauers explained normally you would find these systems in more developed countries they use it mainly for aesthetic appeal and to help with pollution within the context of guyana however i am focusing more on the heat management aspect of green walls the innovator explained that urban areas like georgetown would be ideal for the incorporation of green walls as population increases and cities expand more green spaces are being displaced by buildings the problem this poses is when the sun s direct rays bounce off the concrete walls it will permeate in that area since there are little to no plants to absorb the heat the heat is trapped in the atmosphere creating a hot canyonlike environment green walls can provide a middle ground between expansion of cities and preservation of green spaces green walls have the potential to allow for buildings and their surrounding areas to remain cool lower the electricity consumption for buildings utilising air conditioning units which contribute to the release of pollutants greenhouse gas in the air improve public health by providing cleaner air while fostering a greener connection to the environment mr sauers has begun construction of a green wall on his house to test the parameters of his research in aid of providing the necessary information required for the application of this technology within hot humid climates andydindial tue 2142023 1111  