@Urbangreen
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Climate Love
Jules
43 w
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Jules
43 w
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Urbangreen
156 w
How do you choose which roof you cover with sedum and which you do not? This question has no good answer, unfortunately. Normally it depends on the architect who draws up the plans. However, one can start to question what makes them choose one but not another roof. Maybe it is a about how to gain certain certificates as BREEM, LEED etc, it may be a price question or perhaps it is a matter of, a to high loading weight? What ever the reason is, it is selective and not always clearly understandable. Maybe it is time to add a perspective? Recently we had the opportunity to do a project were many of the roofs were covered by sedum but some of the visible ones were not. In this case the small canopies. The way we see it, it is unfortunate that the roofs visible to the residents are not covered with green roofs. The green/nature feeling that would have occurred if all those small roofs would be covered, disappears. It is not uniform. Why let people look at a “normal” roof when seeing nature makes one feel better. Another aspect is when you build new houses, and you are environmentally aware of the pros with sedum roofs, why not use the positive effects of sedum as much as possible. P.S. The main roofs on this project are green. Some of the good effects of using sedum: - It is good for the biodiversity - it works as a water management system. - It lowers the Heat Island effects in the close surrounding What are your thoughts about this issue?
Urbangreen
157 w
For many real estate owners, it comes a time when they need to maintain and improve their properties. For instance, when they want the real estates to be more attractive and sustainable. It can be to gain a modern standard on their roofs, roof terraces, courtyards or in some other way update existing areas. This is beneficial for the owners as they create a popular place and may take an increased rent, and in the same time companies, co-workers and others will be attracted to a great workspace or to a good social place. One of the reasons behind this new thinking is that people want their properties greener and more environmentally friendly. A lot of existing buildings have the potential to become greener and more sustainable. There might be boring terraces on office buildings or maybe there are a sad, concrete courtyards in the city. All the places mentioned above are spaces that can become green livly areas that prosper. Green areas also have for instance a positive effect on the nature, for the insects, for the birds and the storm water management. People do feel better when they are surrounded by green spaces. When changing a ordinary roof terrace to a green roof landscape, it makes people feel better and it gives them an extra workspace, a place to come for breaks and on other occasions. Today’s roof landscapes are smart, and can be built in many ways, even divided into “rooms”. What is the aim of the change to a greener solution? Nowadays real estate owners have combined the roof landscapes for the co- workers to use and the general public, in the form of roof bars etc like Sveavägen 44 Urbangreen has built many different spaces to improve the real estates and the worth of the buildings. From unused spaces to the become mind-blowing green areas. It is important to have a and good and realistic plan that can be implemented. Since we have done projects like this before we have gained important knowledge of what works and what does not. This means we can assist real estate owners with everything from the creative process to the actual building process of roof landscapes, update terraces and courtyards to make them modern and environmentally advantageous. We are also assisting with the integration of solar panels on the roofs and of course building green roofs. One of our projects was Frösunda Port, Sweden. Here we built workplaces, social spaces and lunch areas on the roofs. The roofs consist of big planting vessels containing trees, bushes and other plants. Not only an attractive place for the tenants but a really good place for the biodiversity in the local area. Read more about real estate improvements here Do you want to know more about Real estate improvements and what value can be added to your building, contact us
Urbangreen
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Sergelhuset Stockholm – Another victory We are happy to announce that Sergelhuset in Stockholm is the winner of The Green Roof Award. The Scandinavian Green Infrastructure Association (SGIA) every year nominates a roof project that is green and sustainable for this award. A part of the motivation said: …. “The project is a redevelopment project where new green solutions have been added to areas where there previously was very little greenery.” …. Do you want to read more about this award?? https://press.urbangreen.se/pressreleases/urbangreens-groena-tak-paa-sergelhuset-vinner-green-roof-award-3092555 Our contribution was to construct roof landscapes on four of the building’s roofs. On Sergelhuset we have constructed roof landscapes with stormwater management solutions such as sedum systems, meadow green roofs and other plantings. There more than 2000 spring flowering bulbs planted, 400 bushes and 3000 perennials. They are all exclusively selected to suit the different environments on the roofs. The green areas are for instance combined with environmentally friendly tree decking’s. On this project we used wood produced without any heavy metals. There are many positive effects from these kind of mixed landscape roofs. - Here is a mix species of green plants which benefits different insects, bugs and birds. The biodiversity is high. - All the green areas are good at binding CO2. - They help to lower the heat islands - By having these types of roofs, constructions and plantings the stormwater is delayed. - And many more! Do you want to read more about this award-winning project? https://urbangreen.se/sergelhuset/ What are your thoughts about this kind of projects?
Urbangreen
159 w
Gröna Lund a project with Perennials In Stockholm one of our projects involved our Perennial mats. In between the flight of stairs, we constructed a long narrow strip with these green mats. Perennial mats are pre-cultivated mats which are easy to install on for instance grounds and some of them stay green all year around. This solution was chosen by our customer among others for: - The green choice – sustainability. - The quick green result. - The nice look – makes the area greener. - The Perennials require minimum care. There are more benefits with using Perennials: - The Perennial mats absorb carbon dioxide. - This system delays the stormwater and to a certain degree cleans the water. - It is good for the bees and other insects and butterflies. - In urbanised cities green spaces are precious. There are many different sorts of Perennials, and in our assortment, we have a variety of them, for example, Vinca minor, Hedera, Waldsteinia ternate, Geranium and many more. They all have in common that they need to have a special construction that is thicker and consists of more layers than normal plants would require. What do you think about this?
Urbangreen
160 w
The spring is slowly coming! Even if the ground is frozen and the weather here in Sweden is a little bit crazy, we can see signs of spring! It is the perfect time to redo your traditional roofs and order your sedum mats. Every project count, from small to big. By making our roofs greener we help our environment and ourselves to a better place. There are many benefits with sedum and green roofs: - Sedum is good for the biodiversity, since our smallest inhabitants so vital for our world have a place to stay in and do not need to leave when natural ground is being destroyed. - Sedum helps managing stormwater by delaying the water. - The construction has a high-water storage capacity depending on the type of layer and thickness of the construction under the vegetation. Normally it can hold between 9-35l/sqm of water. -The roof layer gets a longer lifetime since the surface is covered with sedum and is not exposed to direct UV-radiation and the temperature fluctuation. - It lowers the Heat Islands- effects on the close surrounding. - Sedum looks good all year around, follows the season. Etc. Do you want to know more or have specific questions, contact? Jörgen Lundberg - jorgen.lundberg@urbangreen.se Marcus Ståhl - marcus.stahl@urbangreen.se Have you planned your next project yet?
Urbangreen
161 w
There are several causes for the heat island to form. Heat islands occur in urban areas where limited green areas are available. Buildings, roads etc. absorb and re-emit more heat than they would in a natural environment with greenery. The temperature gets higher and concentrated in these urban spaces which are called “islands”, heat islands. By reducing the natural environment that normally would for e.g., cool, absorb and shade the areas, the lands are just getting more and more urbanised. Replacing the natural state of the landscape with roofs, streets, buildings etc, and materials not like the original state creates heat islands. The weather, and geography can also enhance the heat island effects. The urbanisation leads to compact cities where the heat stays since the natural flow and cooling is hindered by buildings and other infrastructure. We humans contribute with generated heat from, e.g., air-conditions, vehicles etc. source At Urbangreen we work with different strategies to prevent heat islands, we work with all kind of green roofs, roof landscapes and green facades. By making roofs and facades green the heat on the surfaces will be lowered and not just in the precise area, but in the close surrounding as well. Therefore, it is important to make the best use of these green solutions as possible. With the green on the roofs, it lowers the temperature in the air through evapotranspiration. As we are a very innovative company, we try to look at the unique situation and make the best possible solution for that specific project. Since many of the new projects are placed in the cities, where the green areas tend disappear, our work becomes even more important. Our roof landscapes for instance incorporate the green with the human way of living. Just because it is good for the nature does not mean it has to be ugly. In addition, the green roofs and roof landscapes benefit the storm water management. Through the years we have created many interesting and customized projects, from small to big. It does not matter how big the projects are, even the smallest one is good for the nature and the prevention of Heat Islands. Do you want to know more about our roof solutions? about green roofs
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That's interesting..
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This is such an important aspect of your work - the heat island effect can become deadly when the world becomes warmer. Your work saves lives - keep it up!
Urbangreen
162 w
Plants and facades Why buy wires and install them on a facade, if you choose the plants not suited for the environment? One of the common mistakes when constructing a green facade with wires and plants is the wrong choice of the plants. The correct plants will climb up the wire and spread wide. This will give the facade a green look. If you however choose plants that do not fit to the length or are self-adhesive, the aesthetics will be less attractive since it does not live up to its potential. If you have self-adhesive pants you normally do not need a wire construction to help them to climb, this leads to many unnecessary costs. Spend the money wiser! Our tip when wanting a green facade: - What aesthetics do you want? - Choose the right plants with the right characteristics and height for the purpose. self-adhesive plants or climbing plants. - Choose the right number of wires with the right distance between them. - Have the right volume of soil, correct mix of soil. - Do you need a water irrigation system – if you do not have the right volume of soil. - Ask for help with the choice of plants if you lack the knowledge. Read about the benefits here: https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/139b3e64-c8ab-499a-a7f7-df3e74274f5a Did it help you?
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This is very helpful indeed👍
Urbangreen
163 w
Green facades Green facades give not only the building or wall an exciting new look but another great opportunity to create green areas. A positive thing is that the green facades can be adjusted to the precise situation that is on site. Environmental benefits: - Reduced temperatures and has a positive impact on reducing heat islands - Good for biodiversity, since the opportunity of incorporating different plants is high - Improved value of the property - Plants improves the air quality - The facades also benefits the tenants and other who visits the specific place There are some aspects however that must be considered. Let us start from the bottom. Plantbed The plantbed has to have the right soil volume for the roots of the plants to be able to grow in. Most times the soil volume is lower than necessary, and a drip irrigation must added. It does not cost much, and it can help your facade to survive and look its best. So why not add it directly?! The plants should be decided based on how you want the façade to look like. You should think practical and aesthetic. -Practical – which latitude is the facade situated in, how deep is the soil volume? How long will the plants become? Will they “climb” on the wires or are they self-adhesive? How long wires are we working with? -Aesthetic- Which approach should the facade give? Which plants grow in the winter/summer; can I combine them? Will the wires be covered all the way up? Material The material of the wall is essential to know since the attachments must be adapted to the specific situation. It is important that they are stabile because when the plants have “climbed” up the wires they exposed to the power of the wind. Placement The placement of the wires is important to consider as well, how much space should be between them? We always recommend that the distance between the wires should be ca. 600mm. The wires ought to not be placed to close to windows, and we do not recommend attaching the wires horizontally. In both cases it means extra maintenance to cut and direct the plants. The horizontal version is not a natural way of growing for the plants. Even if there are circumstances to take into account it is an easy way to transform a simple facade to a living wall, that benefits the environment and the people. One more thing to consider is that nowadays we have many “normal” simple walls, which means that not much transformation needs to be done to create a whole new beneficial look! What are your thoughts?
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Beautiful!
Urbangreen
164 w
Finished project, Urbangreen and Agenda 30 Climate goals In between the cold and frozen days, that are back, we construct sedum roofs all over Sweden. One of our projects in Malmö is now done. As a part of a bigger project this time we finished two environmental buildings in a new residential area. This time we introduced a new co-worker into our team. Every part of the chain we own is vital, therefore we think its essential to take our newest members out on the field to learn first-hand. We believe that to be able to do a good job and see the whole picture of what we actually are doing is essential. By learning how different constructions function, the use of our materials, what is working and not working, we create good, environmental oriented personnel. With an inspired and knowing team we are sure that our current and new customers are going to get the best guidance on there way to make the urban areas greener. To look it from a greater perspective we work within the Agenda 30 Climate goals. Our range of products and our concepts hit many of the Agenda 30s goals. To us it is important to produce innovations that have multiple good effects. The climate and the environment are of course the biggest part, but we can see that our concepts contributes to positive value for estate owners and the inhabitants of the cities. In other words, there are environmental, economic, and social effects of our work. (read more :https://urbangreen.se/agenda-2030/) Have you thought about you contribution in a grater perspective?
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Great work! Let's all take a moment to really think about how we contribute in a greater perspective. Having a strong personal vision and direction makes it easier to know you're working to solve the right problems, and helps regain focus where you can make the largest impact. For me, this means focusing on initiatives that combine technology with sustainability, like We Don't Have Time and https://hackforfuture.org
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Very well done. I think we all need to look at the bigger picture when we work with sustainability. If we succeed with one goal but fail at the other 16, we haven't really created a better world. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, they are very informative!
Urbangreen
165 w
Q&A - 2 Let us do this once again. We have gathered up some of your questions and answers here down below. Sedum 1. Are there some specific benefits for a sedum covered roof in colder climates? One of the benefits with the sedum roof is that they are able melt into the natural environment! We cannot say that for sure, some studies have been done but they not enough to be significantly secured. What we know is that vegetation covered roofs evens out the temperature during the year by not having the heat- and cold peaks. More specific, from a technical point of view, is that you cover the roof layer to gain a longer lifespan. 2. Just out of curiosity, take Denmark 🇩🇰 for instance that experience a long range of dark winter weather for months, will the plants survive that long out in the open with little or no sunlight? That is no problem, the sedum will survive through all the seasons of the year in Denmark. 3. Also, when the plants start growing, who climbs up to the roof to trim them? Sedum only gets a few centimetres high plus the inflorescence. It means that they do not need to be trimmed. We do have other types of green roofs that require that kind of care for instance meadow green roofs. 4. Ever considered, having your green roof in Africa, starting from my country Nigeria 🇳🇬? No not really, but in countries with less rain, you always have to consider a drip irrigation system to add water to the mats. Sedum on a stonewall 1. How much maintenance do the sedum areas need to stay in shape? Can they be left alone for years? In general, if the sedum on the stonewall has been constructed in the right way, you do not need much maintenance. One should be aware of that sedum needs fertilizing every second or third year. Pre-planted coir mats for aquatic environment 1. Do you have any examples where these mats have improved the water quality in a city? One example of fleeting wetlands nearby you are in Hudding, Trehörningen. They are placed on the water as floating wetlands. Here the mats are placed in a stormwater reservoir where they work as filter before the water floats out into the lake. The mats handle much of Huddinges stormwater. 2. Does this have any effect on microplastics? - Construction wise Our construction does not release any microplastic. We also know that tests are being done regarding the construction of the floating wetlands in general, because some constructions seem to release microplastic themselves. - Floating wetlands as filter Studies have shown “wetlands can significantly reduce microplastic particles in outflowing waters, regardless of initial amounts and main purpose of the wetland…” (https://ccb.se/publications/constructed-wetlands-a-concrete-way-to-remove-micro-plastics/) which should encourage many more to consider this option for water quality improvement You can find more information about what we do https://urbangreen.se/ Any direct questions please contact: Jörgen - jorgen.lundberg@urbangreen.se Marcus- - marcus.stahl@urbangreen.se
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Thanks for your answers! Always fun to learn more about how we can create green urban areas with Urbangreen 🌱
Urbangreen
166 w
The city’s water management systems were built when people were fewer and when there still was a lot more green areas. The size of the cities was smaller, and the living was not as compact as it is today. The urbanisation became more and more intense when the residents in the cities grew in population and it became necessary to inhabit them somewhere and create new workplaces etc. This all lead to a lot more buildings and infrastructural constructions at the cost of the natural green areas, the cities lungs. As the climate has changed over the years, the urbanisation of cities became a problem. One of the problems with the climate change is the drastically heavy rain, and storms. Since our cities are built in a way that is not accustomed to today’s circumstances the water management systems cannot handle the huge amount of water. Before we had the help of the nature, but what do we have now? Concrete, buildings, roads etc. These materials and constructions cannot absorb water nor hold it. Consequently, the flooding’s become more and more common. So, what can we do now? We cannot rebuild the cities from scratch that we now have urbanised. We cannot reverse time. What we can do is to hold on to the green areas in different ways. Instead of shiny buildings and roof tops, it is time to work with what we got. We got surfaces, on roofs, yards, facades and ponds. Water management is a whole system read more. There are many possibilities for the water to be absorbed. By building green roofs, roof landscapes, green facades, green courtyards and magazines where the water can be absorbed, stored and “cleaned” pre-planted coir mats for aquatic or in small or bigger sewage plants. By delaying and purifying the water, it has more possibilities to be used afterwards. The water plants for instances take up toxics and nutrients from the water which means that the amount that end up in our pipes is lower than it would be without any green solutions, read more. Further, when you think of it, while it rains the rain brush of bitumen, oil, gasoline etc from the roofs, streets and other infrastructural constructions. The storm water management delays the water, cleans up the water and gives us, our water management systems and the biodiversity a better condition to handle our more urbanised society.
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Thank you for this more in depth explanation of your solution! I am sure that this can be applied to many areas to increase water quality and environmental standards everywhere.
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Thanks for the explanation! Greening our cities brings many benefits.
Urbangreen
166 w
Kunskapshuset in Gällivare wins the price Swedish Design Awards by RUM 2021 We can happily announce that one of our sedum roofs, designed by Liljewalls arkitekter, won the price - The Architecture of the year. Read more about the project here: https://urbangreen.se/kunskapshuset/ Green is not only good for the nature, but it can be stunningly beautiful as well! This project in North of Sweden shows just that. We constructed the green roof 2020, with sedum and stone paths between the different roofs. The sedum roof here in Gällivare is not just wonderful to look at, it melts in the natural environment visually too. Positive effects of having sedum here is for instance, that the stormwater will be delayed, filters the water, and contributes to a greater biodiversity. Yes, of course there are more positive effects of having sedum roofs! Here are some more examples: - The whole construction holds between 9-35l/sqm water. - Green roofs are a way to reduce heat islands and lower the temperature. - The green areas makes a habitat for insects and animals. - The roof layer gets a longer lifetime since the surface is covered with sedum and is not exposed to direct UV-radiation and the temperature fluctuation. - Our sedum is certified according to BROOF (t2)
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I thought to myself, "where is the roof? Isn´t it just a path in a park?" until I saw the chimney haha! Are there some specific benefits for a sedum covered roof in colder climates?
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Haha yeah I thought the same! Great work and I really enjoy following the updates about the latest projects!
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Hello Victor! One of the benefits with the sedum roof is that they are able melt into the natural environment! We cannot say that for sure, some studies have been done but they not enough to be significantly secured. What we know is that vegetation covered roofs evens out the temperature during the year by not having the heat- and cold peaks. More specific, from a technical point of view, is that you cover the roof layer to gain a longer lifespan. /Urbangreen
Urbangreen
167 w
Floating wetlands Last post was about pre-planted coir mats for aquatic environment : https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/8561245e-0e17-4133-8f63-dec5ce30bf1a The floating wetlands consist of an easy and robust construction which is climate smart from a material perspective. The materials used are sustainable and do not release contaminants such as microplastics. Since the wetland system is a simple construction it is easy to build bigger units and different shapes to match the specific area they are supposed to be placed on. The positive aspect of the floating wetlands is that they increase the water quality through the plants root curtains. These can become ca. 1 m long and in addition work as housing for millions of hungry microorganisms. The small microorganisms create a sticky surface on the roots were the particulate matter such as phosphorus, other nutrients, and metals, etc. get stuck. Thereafter the clumped together they fall to the bottom and create sediment. Further positive characteristics are: - The floating wetlands consist of pre-cultivated mats. - Creates space for a great diversity. Good for birds, insects fish etc. - The root curtains become perfect hunting places for fishes. - AND, the floating wetlands can be constructed to work not only as a water filter but as a place for the birds to sit on i.e. bird deck. This option reduces the risk for the birds to breed and graze on unwanted places. The floating wetlands are also pleasant to look at, which gives it an increased aesthetic value to areas close to water. Read more on our website: https://urbangreen.se/vattenvaxtsystem/ Do you think it is a good idea to use these solutions?
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Encouraging!
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This is a great idea to improve water quality in urban areas. And I'm sure they can be made in quite beautiful shapes as well. Do you have any examples where these mats have improved the water quality in a city? Living in Uppsala which has a river flowing through it, it would be really interesting to know about what solutions there are to improve the quality of that water. Also, does this have any effect on microplastics?
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Hello Adam. Thank you for your questions! One example of fleeting wetlands nearby you are in Hudding, Trehörningen. They are placed on the water as floating wetlands. Here the mats are placed in a stormwater reservoir where they work as filter before the water floats out into the lake. The mats handle much of Huddinges stormwater. Your second question is a two-way question: 1. Construction wise Our construction does not release any microplastic. We also know that tests are being done regarding the construction of the floating wetlands in general, because some constructions seem to release microplastic themselves. 2. Floating wetlands as filter Studies have shown “wetlands can significantly reduce microplastic particles in outflowing waters, regardless of initial amounts and main purpose of the wetland…” (https://ccb.se/publications/constructed-wetlands-a-concrete-way-to-remove-micro-plastics/) which should encourage many more to consider this option for water quality improvement. Best Regards, Urbangreen
Urbangreen
168 w
Pre-planted coir mats for aquatic environment Pre-planted coir mats for aquatic environment are very beneficial for our planet and can be used in many ways. The mats can be placed on the waterline by the shore or as floating wetlands. The species in the mats are selected based on how well they take up nutrition, heavy metals etc, how well they fix in the ground, the flowering time, and the ability to spread. The Pre-planted coir mats must be placed at the edge of the waterline, with half of the mat in the water and the other just above. The product consists of a coco mat with an inserted geogrid. The life span of the coco mat is about 5- 10 years. The geogrid keeps the plants together even after the coco mats have moulder. The pre-planted coir mats for aquatic environment can be used on beach zones, moisture zone and in shallow water. It is important that the mats always have access to water as the vegetation never can dry out. Pros - Works as a natural water filter. - Can also work as erosion protection. - Easy to install. - Finished mat with many species, that can be placed in every environment. - They grow solid fast because of the rigid root system. - Can be used as floating wetlands. - etc Read more (in Swedish) https://urbangreen.se/produkt/vattenvaxtmattor/
Urbangreen
169 w
The first Stormwater roof is done! Can you recall the post about our new Stormwater system? https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/bccb85c5-f1a3-4152-a107-d8c794b426d7 Let us refresh our memories. A Stormwater roof is built instead of a sedum roof on low angled roofs, and the construction, among others, include materials that retains water and materials that are recycled. Stormwater roofs are suited for roofs being covered with solar cells. The positive aspects of this kind of roof system is that no other water solution need to be added and you can build it the whole year around. Some of the other pros we brought up in our first post are that it is a simple construction, it has reduced transportation, it has good water retaining capacity and it protects the roof layer against UV- radiation. In our first project we got the task to take care and delay 19 500 litre day water from a roof covered with 90% solar cells and it had to be done during the colder months here in Sweden. Our customer did not want sedum under and around these solar cells, so they choose our new Stormwater roof. We had to calculate and design how big the area of our new system had to be, in order to handle that much water. In the end we created an 800 sqm Stormwater roof that will be able to take care of the water. Read about or system (in Swedish) : https://urbangreen.se/produkt/dagvattentak/ Read the interview with our sales and product manager (in Swedish) https://urbangreen.se/sa-fungerar-vart-dagvattentak/
Urbangreen
170 w
Sedumtips with Jörgen Lundberg Our last post was about building green roofs in the winter, this time we asked our colleague responsible for sedum, what he thinks is important to think about when constructing and building green roofs in general. Here is a short summery, do you want to read the whole interview (Swedish)? Click https://urbangreen.se/att-anlagga-sedumtak/ Jörgen believes that you have to think about the weight, the angle of the roof, the function and the weather conditions when deciding to construct a green roof. We asked him about the optimal roof and if does exist? The answer is yes. The perfect roof would be in a sunny place with a moderate amount of rain and a roof angle about ca 15 degrees. However, sedum can be constructed on all different roofs, you just have to consult an expert about the right construction. When choosing a supplier, he thinks that local producers are to prefer. If you live in Sweden, you should priorities a Swedish supplier since the mats are accustomed to this climate and the transportation will not be unnecessary long. When you have constructed and built the green roof, it needs minimal maintenance. We recommend fertilizing the sedum mats every second or third year depending on the status of the vegetation. Do you agree with him?
Urbangreen
171 w
Building green roofs in wintertimes In the last post we wrote that some of our teams already are building green roofs despite the winter conditions. You may wonder if it is possible or if it is a good idea? Well, it is not optimal to build green roofs when it is minus degrees outside, but it is not impossible and sometimes there is no other alternative than to do it in cold weather. Some constructions sites may have final inspections no matter which season it is or maybe the construction site are being discontinued so it is therefore the only chance to use cranes. It is important to be careful and follow the instructions since green roofs consists of living sedum, which are sensitive as many green plants are during wintertime. What to think about: 1. Safety! When it is freezing it can get slippery on the roof surface due to fluctuation in temperature, so it is very important to think about the work safety! 2. The construction of the sedum, green roof, is the same all year around i.e. adjusted to the conditions of the roof. 3. The moisturizing layer (normally VH1200) must be stored in a dry place and sent dry, otherwise the mat will freeze and will not be able to be rolled out. 4. Regarding the sedum mat, you must be aware that they are stored on pallets during wintertime and not picked up directly from the fields. This means that the mats on the pallets can be frozen and have to be thawed before being laid out. - NB! It takes time to thaw the pallets with the sedum mats, it can take some days/weeks, so if you store them in an up heated room, it is important that the process is very slow, otherwise the vegetation will be damaged. 5. A few centimetres snow on the roof when laying out the materials is okey, you can put the layers on the snow. When the sedum is laid out, you should not walk on it! 6. With substrate there are two options. The first is to fill the edges of the sedum mats with substrate at the same time as the sedum is being laid out (to avoid walking on the sedum mats). The other option is to hoist up the bags with substrate and fertilizing and leave them on the roof until the temperature is milder. 7. When the weather is cold, you should not fertilize the vegetation but wait until spring. Just hoist up the bags of fertilizing alongside the substrate. 8. Watering the vegetation in winter is not an option. Do you have any questions? https://urbangreen.se/kontakta-oss/ Have you built a green roof when the temperature was low or under 0 degrees Celsius?
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Interesting to learn more! And great to hear that you keep making progress even in the winter.
Urbangreen
172 w
Looking for berries in a winter wonderland! The snow lays heavy on many parts of Sweden and in other parts our teams already are outside constructing green roofs! However, we thought we would tease you with some memories of summer! When constructing a roof landscapes or social roof landscapes the possibility to add those small extra features to the green areas are possible. One of our roof landscapes in Stockholm precisely got that. We planted some wild strawberry plants and what did we get? Small red delicious berries! What do you say, is it not a luxury for tenants and people using the roof landscapes and social roof landscapes to be able to pick their own berries? We think it is! By adding plants, bushes and for instance flowers it makes the roofs full of life with insects and other small vital specious. The scent from the plants will give the area a nice touch and as an added bonus one can of course add eatable berry bushes etc..
Urbangreen
172 w
Why our work and all climate work are so important. In the article” Hetare och torrare städer vid seklets slut” ( https://www.dn.se/vetenskap/hetare-och-torrare-stader-vid-seklets-slut/) the author Maria Gunther writes what we may expect of our climate in the end of the 21st century, what scientist can state and which solutions may be appropriate. She states that the cities will be warmer and develop heat islands. In the middle of this century people living in the cities may have increased up to 70 percent and that in these urban areas the temperature will rise more than in the rural areas. In the cities there are many more surfaces that absorbed heat and the way of us human living will just make it worse. New climate models are therefore necessary and are being developed and tested. It is also stated that these for instance shows how important the green infrastructure is and how it can lower the temperature. Green areas as parks, trees, and other green plantations will be necessary not only to give shadow but to help reducing the temperature/heat. Maria Gunther also discuss the possibility to create green areas in the cities since the space might be an issue, the water access and other resources that may be needed for functional green areas. Green roofs (all variations), roofs landscapes, green courtyards, green facades, and other green solutions are therefore of utter importance. We feel proud to say that Urban Green are one of the companies working to make the future more sustainable and find new solutions and technic to develop smart working systems. To read more about our solutions: https://urbangreen.se/ For everyone working for the climate- keep up the good work!
Urbangreen
173 w
Why choose sedum? When choosing sedum, it is not only a way to make the roofs better looking but a way to support the nature. There are many positive effects using sedum that you cannot be gained from a “normal” roof. Furthermore, it is a more sustainable choice that everyone can make. So, the question is, why do not more people, companies, governments, municipalities etc choose this greener path? Here are some of the pros with sedum - Sedum is good for the biodiversity, since our smallest inhabitants so vital for our world have a place to stay in and do not need to leave when their natural ground is being destroyed. - Sedum helps managing stormwater by delaying the water. - The construction has a high-water storage capacity depending on the type of layer and thickness of the construction under the vegetation. -The roof layer gets a longer lifetime since the surface is covered with sedum and is not exposed to direct UV-radiation and the temperature fluctuation. - It lowers the Heat Islands- effects on the close surrounding. - Sedum looks good all year around, follows the season. Etc. Take a look at some of our projects: https://urbangreen.se/vara-projekt/ Do you choose sedum?
Urbangreen
174 w
2020 - so much more than just a pandemic Therese our CEO has written Urbangreens annual chronicle. Here is the beginning…. 2020 is probably the year we will never forget, the year when Covid-19 paralyzed the whole world. I have never been so grateful that most of Urbangreen's employees work outdoors, on roofs and the plantation as this year. This year we have been operating at a faster pace than ever before and can now say, even under these special circumstances, it has been a great year we can put behind us. To read the whole chronicle (In Swedish) https://urbangreen.se/arskronika2020/
Urbangreen
175 w
Merry Christmas! We at Urbangreen wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Together we can make a change - it has to happened now not later – Do you want to get in touch with us: https://urbangreen.se/kontakta-oss/
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175 w
Keep up the good work.
Urbangreen
176 w
What a lovely courtyard it has become! The picture below shows one of the courtyards we have constructed in Stockholm. Remember, that just because you live in the city it does not mean that you cannot be surrounded by green areas and peaceful environments. Not only good for the nature but for the people as well. Do you want to know more about our projects? https://urbangreen.se/vara-projekt/
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176 w
really nice!
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