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Table 5 Considerations and actions according to the building’s condition, the second stage will depend on them to select SGW [6,7,8,9, 11, 13, 16, 17]

From: Employing systems of green walls to improve performance and rationalize energy in buildings

No.

Actions

Condition

Existing building

New building (design stage)

1

Orientation

The climatic conditions of each region and its thermal influence must be considered, and the adequate orientation to employ the SGW over the west and southwest facade in the case of the hot region.

2

Green system structure

The vegetation system that grows on a structural system installed on the facade should be identified with the presence of a cavity, considering the reasonable insulation for the structural system of facades.

Both systems can be applied; plants that grow directly on the facade or plants that grow on a structural system installed on the facade with a cavity.

3

The plant type used in the green system

Climatic nature, in the case of the Egyptian climatic, it is preferable to use runners and ivy plants with an average Leaf Area Index (LAI) = 0.002 to 0.0065;

The structural system type, the roots of plants growing directly on the facade or in containers hanging; and

The used plant life cycle should not be less than 30 years, with the possibility of landscape renewal and modification.

4

Water insulation systems

It should be selected systems integrated into insulation techniques to ensure that plant roots do not extend inside walls and existing openings.

There is the freedom to select the insulation system used according to the nature and concept of design.

5

Structural load

Plants’ loads must be calculated in the climbing system directly on the facade, the steel installed with plants, or the suspended system with structural systems installed to ensure the building bearing.

Live and dead loads must be considered during calculating building loads to ensure the safety of a building.

6

Facade coverage area

If the design concept of the green facade systems includes 100% of the facade area, recommended using cable systems.

If the coverage area of the green facades ranges from 60 to 40%, recommended using modular units with the possibility of using cable and wire systems.

7

Irrigation system

In two conditions, the drainage nets of the green facade systems must be integrated into the building drainage, with developing a water management strategy, and considering utilizing gray water in the design.

8

Maintenance

Maintenance is done once a year for the structural system to ensure its safety and twice a year to ensure the insulation quality. Yearly maintenance includes four courses to ensure that plants do not penetrate the facades and openings, preserve natural lighting, and provide the soil with the nutrients necessary for plants. A contract is to be made with the residents for 5 years after handing over the facility to sensitize residents about maintaining the planted facades and plants that have fully grown and fulfilled their purpose.

9

Follow green design standards

Select the site to orient and produce the energy toward the sun’s rays without obstruction; the topography is flat.

Examine how the local climate affects the design.

Simplify the building form to be the least complicated for easily insulating walls well.

Design solar shading strategies and elements of the roof and facades provide shadiness and allow the sun’s rays to heat different parts of them in winter.

Determine the thermal insulation coefficient for thermal comfort.