Start of the VertiKKA real laboratory in Weimar – FONA

In the afternoon, Prof. Silvio Beier, head of the professorship for urban water management and technologies for urban material flow utilization at the BUW, welcomed the audience, introduced the project partners and then led the program. The research consortium consists of the partners Björnsen Beratende Ingenieure GmbH at the Leonberg site, the professorship for urban water management and technologies for urban material flow utilization (b. is Technologies) and the professorship for building physics at the Bauhaus University Weimar, the Institute for Future Energy and Material Flow Systems (IZES gGmbH) from Saarbrücken, the Institute for Automation and Communication eV (ifak) from Magdeburg and Solyco Solar AG from Berlin.

In his welcoming speech, Prof. Conrad Völker, Vice Dean of Research at the BUW Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, placed the project in a scientific context and described the problems in urban areas caused by climate change and the advantages of VertiKKA. Extreme heat waves are increasingly posing a challenge for the population of Europe in summer: It is already often extremely hot in cities in particular, as was the case in Weimar at the opening ceremony. Reasons for this include dense development and a lack of green spaces in urban areas. VertiKKA, a new type of facade greening, was developed to increase the proportion of green space quickly and in a space-saving manner. It offers advantages for the urban microclimate by reducing heat, removing pollutants from the air and creating new habitats for animals and insects.

Gloria Kohlhepp, M. Sc., research assistant in Prof. Beier’s team, and Maria Hartmann, M. Sc., research assistant in Prof. Völker’s building physics department, then went into detail about the structure, functions and effects of the vertical climate treatment plant to be investigated. Grey water is used to irrigate the facade greening – that is, slightly polluted wastewater that is generated when showering, bathing, washing hands and laundry or in the kitchen. For the test bench in Weimar, the grey water is collected from a residential building and transported to the real laboratory several times a week. In future implementations, the wastewater from the respective house on which the VertiKKA is then built will be used. The grey water is cleaned and provides the plants with nutrients, so that the use of drinking water can be dispensed with. The ambient air is cooled by evaporation processes. The suspended, movable photovoltaic elements generate energy. At the same time, the plants are protected from heat, heavy rain or wind in extreme weather events.
Among other things, the cleaning performance of the substrate for treating grey water and plant vitality are being investigated. Furthermore, the amount of grey water evaporated and the effects on the microclimate of the adjacent outdoor space (air temperature and humidity), the risk of condensation on the external wall and the heat transport through it are being determined.

Finally, Prof. Beier and Prof. Völker looked together at the expected research results, at planned and, in some cases, already applied for follow-up projects, and at the opportunities that could arise for the housing industry through the further development of VertiKKA. At the get-together, the numerous guests then learned more about the individual components of VertiKKA from the individual project partners, had lively discussions and rounded off the afternoon with Thuringian sausages, vegan patties and – due to the high temperatures – plenty of drinks.
The research projects of the RES:Z funding measure of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) develop concepts for the resource-efficient use of water, space, material flows, energy and urban greenery in urban areas. The goal is integrative planning and sustainability-oriented management of urban districts with the participation and coordination of all relevant actors.

More information
https://vertikka.de/
Instagram: @vertikka_fassade.de