What Are Biowalls?

​Biowall, this might not be a term you are very familiar with. There are other names for this type of wall, such as green walls or living walls.

What is a Biowall?

Basically they are a wall that is covered with living plants. They can be used both inside as well as outside of a building. They are often used inside in homes and are also good for offices. Their ability to purify the air makes them a good choice for indoor use. Of course they do not replace a traditional HVAC system, but instead are used to work alongside one.

They are good for outdoor use, especially in more urban areas. Because concrete walls and surfaces reflect heat, this can make urban areas a lot hotter than they should be. In the summer time, this can lead not only to excessive heat, but also to bad air quality. It is referred to as the Urban Heat Island (UHI). A biowall in areas like these serve to reduce the effects of UHI.

There are 2 different types of biowall. A panel system, which uses soil that is packed into plastic bags and then the plants are placed into compartments. They are fed by an irrigation system which is connected. The other type of biowall is a felt system. Plants fit into felt that is backed by a waterproof layer, which is used as the means of growing the plants. As the plants grow, their roots grow downwards which helps to support them.

What are the advantages to biowalls? And are there any disadvantages? This will be discussed in future articles.

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