plantipolis: innovation for light-weight green roofs

AI Quick Summary

Green roofs have the potential to mitigate the effects of climate change in urban settlements. They contribute to clean air, CO2 storage, noise and heat reduction. They can be a part of the conservation strategy in cities, by providing habitat for animals. Despite their great potential, there has been a lack of innovation when it comes to installing green roofs on pre-existing building structures. What problem would you like to solve? Plantipolis mission is to bring biodiversity to the city for the benefit of both citizens and Switzerland’s nature. Additionally, to the current services- design and implementation of the biodiverse green spaces- we would like to offer an innovative solution for the light-weight green roofs.Green roofs have numerous well described environmental and economic benefits, relevant to the sustainable development for the building industry. For example, they extend the life of roofs building materials by protecting them and thus reducing overall materials usage. Importantly for the citizens, they bring back natural elements to the urban environment. Roofs remain mostly surfaces without purpose. Therefore, in cities with a large demand for housing areas, roofs offer a surface where biodiversity and environmental enhancement can be done without conflicts with housing industry.When “greening” is implemented in areas with limited substrates (primarily those roofs where a green roof was not part of the original project), the results are often poor and unsatisfying. A possible solution for this problem could be to rely on different moss species. Mosses have a good growth potential on very thin substrate layers. This combined with high water retention potential (8–10 times of their weight compared to only 1.3 times for other typical green roof mediums [M. Anderson, 2010]) and their ability to endure long droughts as well as heat-waves and other extreme weather conditions makes them the ideal species group for light-weight green roofs. According to the Biodiversity Monitoring program (BDM), settlements have the highest percentage of area where absolutely no moss species have been found [Switzerland 6th National Report to CBD]. Therefore, implementing moss as a primary plant might not only improve the outcome and functionality of the green roofs executed on the already existing surfaces, but also contribute to the conservation of this species group in the urban context. At this time in Switzerland, there is no company that focuses on the use of moss for green roofs. Who are the customers and how will they benefit from your solution? Our clients are real estate developers, landlords, municipalities and Baugenossenschaften. We would like to focus on existing buildings, where the original design did not include a green roof. Due to load-bearing limitations it is difficult to implement green roofs to their full benefit. Beneficial economic aspects include: 1) Extended roof life and reduction in renovation costs, through protection of underlying materials. Green roofs have been shown to triple the life expectancy of the roof [greenroofers.co.uk]. 2) Energy efficiency through better insulation- green roofs help to reduce energy consumption both for heating and for cooling. We are certain that the evaluators are aware that green roofs offer much more than just economic profit. We focus on those important aspects in the section: “positive impacts on the planet”. Who are the existing persons/companies in your team and what is their role?Malwina Kowalska, plantipolis co-founder, is a PhD candidate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics with a great interest in the human and natures health connectivity. Plantipolis can benefit from a network of research collaboration that she established. She has management skills which are crucial for plantipolis. She developed them throughout overseeing a clinical study run simultaneously in 11 clinics in 5 countries. Malwina finished a 6 months program (Feminno) designed to equip female researchers with entrepreneurship skills. In this project she will be responsible for communication and administration. Simona Zahner, plantipolis co-founder, holds a Masters degree in Environmental Sciences with a specialisation in forestry and landscape management. She has almost 4 years of practical experience in the gardening and tree-care industry. She is the plantipolis plant expert and holds a vast knowledge on native plant species. Biodiversity and its conservation are her passion, and she has experience in planning and implementing biodiversity enhancing green spaces and habitat structures. This project will benefit from Simonas practical knowledge. Plantipolis is supported by the expert knowledge and the collaboration network of the following partners: ● The Zurich University Research Priority Programme (URPP) on Global Change and Biodiversity, which focuses on innovative avenues in research that are bundled into interdisciplinary projects on strategically important areas of global change and biodiversity. We can use their extensive web of collaboration to gain specialist support and promote this project.● Technikum Urbane Agrokoelogie, devoted to the development of agricultural ecosystems and urban landscapes according to the principles of urban agroecology. They are involved in research, training community gardeners and civil movements. They can help us to identify first potential customers, who are already interested in the urban ecology solutions.● Kevin Vega, environmental scientist at ETH, focused on the development of sustainable and resilient cities with novel vegetation, soil ecologies, ecosystem services, and equitable urban greening will be participating in the project. How does your challenge have a positive impact on the planet? We believe that green roofs are very important for urban areas. Finding a functional green roof solution and plant composition for the existing roofs is crucial. Among the many positive aspects, we would like to emphasise the positive impact on the planet: ● Reduction of rainwater runoff: water retention on green roof, not only decreases the burden on sewer systems but also increases the evapotranspiration thus providing a cooling effect and reducing the Urban Heat Island Effect (UHI).● Water Quality improvement: According to Kohler & Schmidt research (1990) 95% of the lead, copper and cadmium sulphide coming from the rainwater remains in the green roofs substrate, which improves water quality. ● CO2 Capture: 1m2 of a green roof can absorb 5 kg of CO2 yearly [National Research Council of Canada]. ● Reduction of energy consumption and further CO2 savings: the insulating effect of green roofs leads to lower energy consumption and therefore lower CO2 emissions for heating and cooling of buildings. ● Better air quality: The plants on green roofs can also capture airborne particles such as smog, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds, which has a positive effect on air quality. Researchers estimate that 1m2 of a green roof can help to absorb 0.2kg of airborne particles from the air every year [US EPA– Reducing UHI: Compendium of Strategies]. Two especially important aspects of green roofs for plantipolis are 1) biodiversity enhancement by creation of habitat for various species and use of native plants and 2) health benefits for citizens through noise, air pollution and heat island effect reduction.Has your idea been tested before? Yes. Mosses have been researched as an option for green roofs. For example in the context of addressing urban heat island effect [M. Amier 2018]. Unfortunately, available studies are largely laboratory based and there is a great need to collide existing knowledge. Moving from basic science to testing in real world conditions is a needed step in the context of mosses use. Mosses were not studied before in the context of Switzerland and local climate conditions. Therefore, we would like to sum up the existing evidence and consult suggested solutions with the interdisciplinary specialists panel. With this collaboration we would like to select the best potential plant composition and substrate for the light-weight green roofs with a focus on mosses. Such a solution would fit to our company profile and allow us to extend our services. We realised that a solution for the light-weight green roofs is at the moment a market gap. Working on this project with experts will complete our subject knowledge. Conducting a feasibility study in Zurich will give us credibility and having the best solution for light-weight green roofs would position our company as a market leader. This project will enable us to join the market quickly and fill a market need. What are you planning on working on throughout the booster? What will you deliver at the end of the booster? Within a booster we are planning to accomplish the following points: 1)Based on the available literature- identify potential new solutions for light-weight green roofs with a focus on mosses. 2)Identify experts and establish an Interdisciplinary Specialists Panel/Working Group. 3) Organise a brainstorming session with a Working Group to explore possible solutions. 4) Select promising solutions for green roofs. 5)Consult the possible solutions with industry working with the green roofs (e.g., Green Infrastructure Consultancy-Zurich and ZinCo-green roofs-International). 6)Organise a feedback section with a Working Group to determine the final plant compositions, substrates and technicalities. 7)Initiate a feasibility study with 4 potential plant compositions to identify resilient plant-communities suitable for the local environment and for light-weight roofs. The idea of the light-weight green roof Working Group was discussed with URPP GCB and it was warmly welcomed. To complete the panel of experts we would like to invite: Nicholas Mueller (Botanical Gardens), Prof Teresa Gali-Izard (ETH), partners from Sustainable Construction (ETH), ZHAW and possibly other stakeholders that we will identify or that will be suggested by the CBI. Hopefully, we will be able to attract building industry partners to join. If that is not possible, we will consult the selected solutions with them and use part of the budget for their methodological support (point 5, above). At the end of the booster we will be able to deliver:1) A summary of the literature and selected potential solutions. Summary will be available at Open Science Framework (OSF).2) If that will be feasible, we will set up a green roof plan composition experiment.Financial support from the booster will allow us to work on the exploration of the new plant compositions and substrates for the light-weight green roofs and for setting up a feasibility study. Such experiment would allow us to enter the building market with a commercialized selected solution. Looking into the future, we could grow our company further by establishing a plant nursery, focused on the propagation of mosses and drought resistant plants providing planting-material not only to us but also to other companies working in the green roof industry. What are you expecting from the booster (e.g., looking for specific partners, expert support etc.)?Plantipolis collaborates primarily with specialists involved in environmental science. We would therefore welcome recommendations from building industry experts who are interested in green roofs. We would appreciate it if CBI could foster a connection with those stakeholders. We expect that plantipolis' participation in the booster would provide an opportunity for our company to acquire recognition in the building sector and establish new relationships.

Project Idea Metadata

• Project Idea Name: plantipolis: innovation for light-weight green roofs
• Date: 9/1/2022 7:37:10 AM
• Administrators:
  • CBI Booster

Project Idea Description

What problem would you like to solve?

Plantipolis mission is to bring biodiversity to the city for the benefit of both citizens and Switzerland’s nature. Additionally, to the current services- design and implementation of the biodiverse green spaces- we would like to offer an innovative solution for the light-weight green roofs.

Green roofs have numerous well described environmental and economic benefits, relevant to the sustainable development for the building industry. For example, they extend the life of roofs building materials by protecting them and thus reducing overall materials usage. Importantly for the citizens, they bring back natural elements to the urban environment. Roofs remain mostly surfaces without purpose. Therefore, in cities with a large demand for housing areas, roofs offer a surface where biodiversity and environmental enhancement can be done without conflicts with housing industry.

When “greening” is implemented in areas with limited substrates (primarily those roofs where a green roof was not part of the original project), the results are often poor and unsatisfying. A possible solution for this problem could be to rely on different moss species. Mosses have a good growth potential on very thin substrate layers. This combined with high water retention potential (8–10 times of their weight compared to only 1.3 times for other typical green roof mediums [M. Anderson, 2010]) and their ability to endure long droughts as well as heat-waves and other extreme weather conditions makes them the ideal species group for light-weight green roofs. According to the Biodiversity Monitoring program (BDM), settlements have the highest percentage of area where absolutely no moss species have been found [Switzerland 6th National Report to CBD]. Therefore, implementing moss as a primary plant might not only improve the outcome and functionality of the green roofs executed on the already existing surfaces, but also contribute to the conservation of this species group in the urban context. At this time in Switzerland, there is no company that focuses on the use of moss for green roofs.

Who are the customers and how will they benefit from your solution?

Our clients are real estate developers, landlords, municipalities and Baugenossenschaften. We would like to focus on existing buildings, where the original design did not include a green roof. Due to load-bearing limitations it is difficult to implement green roofs to their full benefit. Beneficial economic aspects include: 1) Extended roof life and reduction in renovation costs, through protection of underlying materials. Green roofs have been shown to triple the life expectancy of the roof [greenroofers.co.uk]. 2) Energy efficiency through better insulation- green roofs help to reduce energy consumption both for heating and for cooling. We are certain that the evaluators are aware that green roofs offer much more than just economic profit. We focus on those important aspects in the section: “positive impacts on the planet”.

Who are the existing persons/companies in your team and what is their role?

Malwina Kowalska, plantipolis co-founder, is a PhD candidate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics with a great interest in the human and natures health connectivity. Plantipolis can benefit from a network of research collaboration that she established. She has management skills which are crucial for plantipolis. She developed them throughout overseeing a clinical study run simultaneously in 11 clinics in 5 countries. Malwina finished a 6 months program (Feminno) designed to equip female researchers with entrepreneurship skills. In this project she will be responsible for communication and administration.

Simona Zahner, plantipolis co-founder, holds a Masters degree in Environmental Sciences with a specialisation in forestry and landscape management. She has almost 4 years of practical experience in the gardening and tree-care industry. She is the plantipolis plant expert and holds a vast knowledge on native plant species. Biodiversity and its conservation are her passion, and she has experience in planning and implementing biodiversity enhancing green spaces and habitat structures. This project will benefit from Simonas practical knowledge.

Plantipolis is supported by the expert knowledge and the collaboration network of the following partners:

● The Zurich University Research Priority Programme (URPP) on Global Change and Biodiversity, which focuses on innovative avenues in research that are bundled into interdisciplinary projects on strategically important areas of global change and biodiversity. We can use their extensive web of collaboration to gain specialist support and promote this project.

● Technikum Urbane Agrokoelogie, devoted to the development of agricultural ecosystems and urban landscapes according to the principles of urban agroecology. They are involved in research, training community gardeners and civil movements. They can help us to identify first potential customers, who are already interested in the urban ecology solutions.

● Kevin Vega, environmental scientist at ETH, focused on the development of sustainable and resilient cities with novel vegetation, soil ecologies, ecosystem services, and equitable urban greening will be participating in the project.

How does your challenge have a positive impact on the planet?

We believe that green roofs are very important for urban areas. Finding a functional green roof solution and plant composition for the existing roofs is crucial.

Among the many positive aspects, we would like to emphasise the positive impact on the planet:

● Reduction of rainwater runoff: water retention on green roof, not only decreases the burden on sewer systems but also increases the evapotranspiration thus providing a cooling effect and reducing the Urban Heat Island Effect (UHI).

● Water Quality improvement: According to Kohler & Schmidt research (1990) 95% of the lead, copper and cadmium sulphide coming from the rainwater remains in the green roofs substrate, which improves water quality.

● CO₂ Capture: 1m² of a green roof can absorb 5 kg of CO₂ yearly [National Research Council of Canada].

● Reduction of energy consumption and further CO₂ savings: the insulating effect of green roofs leads to lower energy consumption and therefore lower CO₂ emissions for heating and cooling of buildings.

● Better air quality: The plants on green roofs can also capture airborne particles such as smog, heavy metals and volatile organic compounds, which has a positive effect on air quality. Researchers estimate that 1m² of a green roof can help to absorb 0.2kg of airborne particles from the air every year [US EPA– Reducing UHI: Compendium of Strategies].

Two especially important aspects of green roofs for plantipolis are 1) biodiversity enhancement by creation of habitat for various species and use of native plants and 2) health benefits for citizens through noise, air pollution and heat island effect reduction.

Has your idea been tested before?

Yes. Mosses have been researched as an option for green roofs. For example in the context of addressing urban heat island effect [M. Amier 2018]. Unfortunately, available studies are largely laboratory based and there is a great need to collide existing knowledge. Moving from basic science to testing in real world conditions is a needed step in the context of mosses use. Mosses were not studied before in the context of Switzerland and local climate conditions. Therefore, we would like to sum up the existing evidence and consult suggested solutions with the interdisciplinary specialists panel. With this collaboration we would like to select the best potential plant composition and substrate for the light-weight green roofs with a focus on mosses. Such a solution would fit to our company profile and allow us to extend our services. We realised that a solution for the light-weight green roofs is at the moment a market gap. Working on this project with experts will complete our subject knowledge. Conducting a feasibility study in Zurich will give us credibility and having the best solution for light-weight green roofs would position our company as a market leader. This project will enable us to join the market quickly and fill a market need.

What are you planning on working on throughout the booster? What will you deliver at the end of the booster?

Within a booster we are planning to accomplish the following points:

1)Based on the available literature- identify potential new solutions for light-weight green roofs with a focus on mosses.

2)Identify experts and establish an Interdisciplinary Specialists Panel/Working Group.

3) Organise a brainstorming session with a Working Group to explore possible solutions.

4) Select promising solutions for green roofs.

5)Consult the possible solutions with industry working with the green roofs (e.g., Green Infrastructure Consultancy-Zurich and ZinCo-green roofs-International).

6)Organise a feedback section with a Working Group to determine the final plant compositions, substrates and technicalities.

7)Initiate a feasibility study with 4 potential plant compositions to identify resilient plant-communities suitable for the local environment and for light-weight roofs.

The idea of the light-weight green roof Working Group was discussed with URPP GCB and it was warmly welcomed. To complete the panel of experts we would like to invite: Nicholas Mueller (Botanical Gardens), Prof Teresa Gali-Izard (ETH), partners from Sustainable Construction (ETH), ZHAW and possibly other stakeholders that we will identify or that will be suggested by the CBI. Hopefully, we will be able to attract building industry partners to join. If that is not possible, we will consult the selected solutions with them and use part of the budget for their methodological support (point 5, above).

At the end of the booster we will be able to deliver:

1) A summary of the literature and selected potential solutions. Summary will be available at Open Science Framework (OSF).

2) If that will be feasible, we will set up a green roof plan composition experiment.

Financial support from the booster will allow us to work on the exploration of the new plant compositions and substrates for the light-weight green roofs and for setting up a feasibility study. Such experiment would allow us to enter the building market with a commercialized selected solution. Looking into the future, we could grow our company further by establishing a plant nursery, focused on the propagation of mosses and drought resistant plants providing planting-material not only to us but also to other companies working in the green roof industry.

What are you expecting from the booster (e.g., looking for specific partners, expert support etc.)?

Plantipolis collaborates primarily with specialists involved in environmental science. We would therefore welcome recommendations from building industry experts who are interested in green roofs. We would appreciate it if CBI could foster a connection with those stakeholders. We expect that plantipolis' participation in the booster would provide an opportunity for our company to acquire recognition in the building sector and establish new relationships.

Green roofs have the potential to mitigate the effects of climate change in urban settlements. They contribute to clean air, CO₂ storage, noise and heat reduction. They can be a part of the conservation strategy in cities, by providing habitat for animals. Despite their great potential, there has been a lack of innovation when it comes to installing green roofs on pre-existing building structures.