Revolutionizing Urban Cooling: How Senzemo Leads with Facade Greening Technologies
As cities grapple with the challenges of climate change and urbanization, innovative solutions are essential to creating more sustainable and livable environments. At Senzemo, we are proud to lead the charge in applying cutting-edge technologies for energy-efficient building systems. With our co-founder, Dr. Tomaž Šuklje, at the helm, Senzemo is at the forefront of research and implementation of facade greening systems (FG) to combat urban heat stress, reduce energy consumption, and enhance urban resilience.
Understanding the Impact of Facade Greening
Facade greening is more than an aesthetic addition to urban architecture. It serves as a multi-functional tool for addressing some of the most pressing issues in urban environments, including:
- Urban Heat Island (UHI) Mitigation: Densely populated city areas often lack vegetation, exacerbating the UHI effect. Facade greening cools building exteriors and surrounding areas through shading, insulation, and evapotranspiration.
- Energy Efficiency: FG significantly reduces energy consumption for building cooling, lowering costs while contributing to environmental sustainability.
- Enhanced Indoor Comfort: By reducing indoor temperatures, especially during heat waves, FG minimizes indoor heat stress, benefiting vulnerable populations such as the elderly.
Facade greening should become a cornerstone of sustainable urban development in the future.
Senzemo’s Contribution to Advanced FG Solutions
Dr. Tomaž Šuklje and the Senzemo team have developed and validated sophisticated numerical models to assess the energy-saving potential of FG across diverse building types and climatic conditions. The study “Modelling the Cooling Energy Saving Potential of Facade Greening in Summer for a Set of Building Typologies in Mid-Latitudes” underscores our scientific approach. Here’s a detailed look at the research:
Key Findings from the Study
- Temperature Reductions:
- FG can lower exterior wall temperatures by up to 17°C and interior wall temperatures by up to 2.9°C.
- Southern-facing walls show the highest cooling impact during the day, while western-facing walls experience cooling benefits in the evening.
- Energy Savings:
- FG offers energy savings ranging from 2 to 16 kWh/m² depending on building type, insulation levels, and climatic conditions.
- Buildings with lower thermal inertia benefit most significantly, with well-insulated structures also seeing notable savings.
- Versatile Application Across Building Types:
- Scenarios included commercial halls, residential buildings, prefabricated panel constructions, and historic Wilhelmine-era buildings.
- Retrofits demonstrated variable effectiveness, with facade greening enhancing performance in most cases.
- Seasonal and Climatic Adaptability:
- Simulations in Ljubljana and Berlin revealed how FG adapts to different mid-latitude climates, showcasing its broad applicability.
Thermoregulation is one of the most researched benefits of green walls.
Realizing Urban Sustainability with Senzemo
Senzemo’s commitment extends beyond research. Our mission is to integrate facade greening into urban planning, leveraging its potential to address climate adaptation and urban livability. We work closely with municipalities, architects, and urban planners to:
- Identify priority buildings for FG implementation.
- Develop customized FG solutions tailored to specific building typologies and climates.
- Provide open-source models and tools for scalable adoption across cities.
The Way Forward
The challenges of climate change call for collaborative, innovative solutions. Senzemo’s work in facade greening exemplifies how scientific research and practical applications can converge to transform urban spaces. By partnering with local governments and communities, we aim to make facade greening a cornerstone of sustainable urban development.
Our co-founder, Dr. Tomaž Šuklje, at the helm, Senzemo is at the forefront of research and implementation of facade greening systems (FG) to combat urban heat stress, reduce energy consumption, and enhance urban resilience.
FULL STUDY AVAILABLE HERE: