Urban Vegetated canopies

Context- Vegetated awnings, or canopies, recently installed  in Spain is a mitigation project that aims to bring green spaces back into urban spaces.

What are vegetated canopies?

• Canopies are stretched sail-like structures  anchored to the facades of surrounding buildings. 
• They mimic natural canopies and different plant species found in forests. 
• The lightness and easy installation of the shade “Greenshades” allows shade and  greenery to appear on commercial streets and public places where trees or other vegetation are often absent. 
• Canopies can be placed on streets where it is not necessarily possible to plant trees due to  lack of space.  
• The plants are grown hydroponically and have a water intake and water drain for drying. 

How do they work? 

• Sails with anchors and supports are made by laying a solid geotextile base or material. 
• A watering system will be installed on the highest side, from which the waterfalls will descend under the influence of gravity and permeate the entire platform. 
• In addition to water, fertilizer keeps the vegetation in perfect condition. 
• Excess water is collected in a drainage system connected to the lowest point. 
• The seed mixture is then projected onto the geotextile.  
• After four months, the shade should be completely covered with vegetation. 

Significances 

• Evapotranspiration: draft rooms are designed to reduce the temperature both around them and below deck. 
  • Behind this is the phenomenon of evapotranspiration, which means the transfer of water into the atmosphere by plants. 
• Pollution reduction: Plants optimized for absorbing gases such as carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide were selected for these canopies. 
  • The substrate also absorbs sound waves, which reduces noise pollution. 
• Oxygen production: one square meter of planted roof produces the oxygen that a person needs for a whole year, 
•  Street lighting: the hanging planter also allows  the centralization of water and lighting installations. 
  • This is  to achieve savings, as the lights are equipped with motion sensors that illuminate the street as needed. 
• Ecosystem building: Adopting such canopies can ultimately promote urban biodiversity and create a healthier ecosystem that supports many wildlife species. 
• Sustainability: With half of the world’s population living in cities and the ongoing loss of forests and biodiversity worldwide, the role of urban nature  in creating  both ecologically and socially sustainable cities is increasingly important. 
• Health benefits: The presence of built  nature and green neighborhoods is associated with reduced stress and improved physical and mental health. 

Way Ahead 

• Human-caused greenhouse gases have warmed the planet by about 1.2 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. 
• The temperature rise will only stop when people stop adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, and until then, heat waves will only get worse. 
• These bad predictions make mitigation measures such as vegetated canopies or canopies in Spain all the more important.

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