Livingwalls for NetZero (LNZ): A live research and engagement project

Background: Exeter Science Centre’s (ESC’s) new premises are due to be fitted with a green wall system in the next couple of months, which will either be staged (starting with an approximately 17m2 section, expanding to a 100m2 size within the next year), or – funding permitting – installed as 100m2 system from the outset. They also hope to install a rainwater harvesting system to supply all / most of the water needs for the green wall.

The project enterprise lead is Exeter Science Centre, but they will be working with three other enterprises as collaborators: Lumi Therapy Ltd (wellness brand and main building tenants who are funding the green wall and associated systems, and hosting ESC by providing office space and resources), and Melo Group Ltd, a health-focused coffee bar who are redeveloping the building’s cafe and outdoor space. The company being commissioned to install the green wall, Western Geobuild, has worked with Dr Murphy previously on evidence-based green wall systems, and are keen to continue this collaboration and development.

Project purpose: Utilise this green wall system as an active research project with Dr Murphy’s team, with a significant public engagement component led by ESC.

Activities: Dr Murphy will work with Western Geobuild and use his expertise in
‘Fytotextile’ green wall systems to advise on the design of the green wall system, and lead on the collection of data via live sensors to measure its impact. The focus will be on optimal green wall plant and soil choice for carbon sequestration and insulation properties (the carbon-reduction benefits), longevity (a business need), and also the wider benefits for biodiversity, sound reduction, wellbeing and flood-risk reduction, which may be investigated via student projects.

ESC will provide in-kind support through overseeing and liaising with all parties on the green wall development, supporting with data collection, and engaging people with this work, by:

1) sharing the performance of the green wall via signage, a dedicated webpage and social media, and using it as a case study in ESC’s Our World From Space project (https://exetersciencecentre.org/esc-joins-the-our-world-from-space-programme/) on the theme of environmental benefits of urban greening;

2) Understanding public perceptions of the green wall on their own climate actions (particularly considering the influence of the educational signage), and gauging impacts on wellbeing and the perceptions of the companies involved;

3) Informing and influencing other organisations and businesses by sharing the
project’s updates and outputs, including the project report which will be published openly on the ESC website.

Summary of aims:
● Extend the current research collaboration between Dr Murphy and Western
Geobuild through collaboration on new research which will improve the
engagement and knowledge transfer around the role of livingwalls to achieve Net Zero.

Summary of activities:
● Engage the public, local businesses and ESC’s network with an active Net Zero
research project.
● Reduce energy loss from ESC’s new building.
● Deliver research on the role of livingwalls and the impact of plant choice and
biochar soil medium in improving thermal performance of buildings of this
construction.

Summary of outputs:
● Scientific research publication(s),
● Report summarising the collaboration and its main findings.
● The project will support the expertise of local supplier of livingwalls - Western
Geobuild.
● The project will support the development of Early Career Researcher Dr Thomas Murphy.
● The project will support development and engagement of wider public with
livingwalls and local green infrastructure supply chain.