In a firm commitment to sustainability, the installation of the GRETA green wall on an interior building’s facade in Sant Quirze del Vallès, owned by INCASÒL and managed by the Catalan Housing Agency, stands out as an innovative and circular solution, integrated within the framework of the European HOUSEFUL PROJECT (Horizon 2020).
Aiguasol Consulting, a leading company in environmental consulting, project engineering and research, has led this initiative alongside other Houseful partners, directing both the implementation of GRETA and the evaluation of its circularity and energy efficiency.
GRETA consists of 8 panels with 9 rows and 10 pots each, housing plants in a substrate that allows water circulation from the inlet to the outlet. This system processes rainwater and gray water from 3 of the homes in the development, generating approximately 350 L/day of reclaimed water to fill the toilet cisterns of 4 homes.
Water purification is achieved through the combined effect of plants, filtering material and microorganisms that form a biofilm at the roots. This system ensures an adequate hydraulic retention time for the efficient degradation of pollutants. Constant monitoring by means of samples, sensors and pre-ozonization guarantees the microbiological quality of the treated water for reuse.
With experts predicting an increase in drought episodes and some municipalities establishing in their regulations the obligation to treat rainwater and gray water, the implementation of systems such as the GRETA Green Wall emerges as a necessary response. The benefits of this system go beyond water management, with energy savings, visual aesthetics, promotion of biodiversity and increase of green spaces in urban environments.
In conclusion, this technology emerges as an essential contribution in the fight against drought, offering economic and environmental advantages over traditional systems. The GRETA Green Wall stands out as a concrete example of how innovation in water management can be a valuable asset for sustainable construction and resource preservation.
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