Evaluating the cleansing efficiency of an extended living façade draped with vernonia elaeagnifolia

Abstract

Nature has its own astonishing capability to naturally cleanse the environment. Living green drapes on buildings look elegant and can provide sustainable solutions in congested cities. The Vellore Institute of Technology in India promotes green values within the country. Although the campus is lush and verdant, its ever growing student population precipitated an increase in public thoroughfare causing air pollution. To partially alleviate this problem, walls of a subway connecting the main academic campus and the hostel premises are draped with Vernonia elaegnifolia creeper; this is aesthetically elegant and was found to be efficient in capturing much of the vehicular pollution within the subway. An experimental investigation clubbed with an Ecotect analysis helped ascertain the optimal duration of the temperature drop across the subway. The analysis also predicts an annual savings of 36000 USD per hostel block. A detailed Scanning Electron Microscopic analyses coupled with Spectrophotometry established the deposition pattern of sulphates and nitrates. It is expected that the results of this analysis will promote the use of green facades in this sun drenched country.