Looking for a way to improve the insulation in your house? As the colder months roll in the debate arises in the house about whether it’s cold enough to turn the heating on, and if so how long for! What if we told you there is a way to keep your house warm in the winter, cool in the summer, and contribute to offsetting your house’s carbon footprint – all without turning the heating up to max?
There is a lot of research to support the positive effects of ‘green walls’, meaning plants growing around buildings, here are 4 key reasons to consider adding greenery to your house taken from a paper published in the Journal of Living Architecture[1]
- To keep your house warm in the winter
Green walls can improve building insulation through the generation of stationary air and reduced heat loss as the plants act as a windbreak to protect the building. Therefore, there is reduced energy demand and consumption in the winter period.
- To keep your house cool in the summer
Green walls can also reduce wall temperature during hot periods due to cooling from plant evapotranspiration and shading from the foliage. One study showed that green walls enable 6.1 °C temperature reduction in sunny days compared to bare wall, even on cloudy days is the reduction is still promising by 4.0 °C.[2]
- To maintain a consistent temperature
The extra layer of greenery around the exterior of your house means there will be reduced variation in wall temperature meaning you can be comfortable all day and not expect a huge drop or rise in temperature as the sun moves.
- To protect your walls
Green walls provide a shield against UV radiation and rain meaning there will be reduced wear and damage to walls. Also, its ability to maintain a consistent temperature means there is a diminished risk of freeze-thaw cycles on the exposed walls.
- It’s beneficial for the environment
Any greenery you can add to your garden, particularly in urban environments, is incredibly beneficial for the environment and can work to offset your carbon footprint.
Eager to try it for yourself?
Last year at the Landscape Show, Leigh Hunt, Principal Horticultural Advisor of the RHS gave a fascinating talk about this very topic.
When we spoke to Leigh about how we can put this research into action he said “It’s a case of more is more – the more plants you have, the better. Having said this, allowing more thermal gain in winter is a good thing, so deciduous plants that allow in more sunlight is also a useful thing.
“In the north, where there is less thermal gain in the winter, it’s likely that evergreen climbers are a better choice. Of course, it can be any climbing plant or shrub – self-clinging or one that needs support.”
Encourage vertical growth and support your greenery with our ready-made products
Many of the products that we make are concerned with encouraging vertical growth of climbers, from trellis, obelisks, arches, arbours and more.
What better way to ensure the best results from RHS advice than to use our RHS endorsed Prestige range of Trellis, Fencing and Gates which are handmade in the UK?
Take a look at our online shop for inspiration.
If you are looking for a more bespoke project to cover the exterior of your house in trellis, our team of expert designers and craftsmen can work with you to bring your vision to life.
[1] Faye Thomsit-Ireland et al. “Controlling ivy attachment to wall surfaces by applying paints, metal meshes and sheets” in The Journal of Living Architecture v.3 no.1 (2016), p1-14.
