Converting STEM into STEAM Programs by Arthur J. Stewart & Michael P. Mueller & Deborah J. Tippins

Author:Arthur J. Stewart & Michael P. Mueller & Deborah J. Tippins
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9783030251017
Publisher: Springer International Publishing

5 UC Berkeley Vertical Garden

At the University of California Berkeley, the Bechtel Engineering Center is used significantly throughout the year, in terms of student footfall and energy consumption. Therefore, it was an ideal location for the local ESW chapter’s attempt to create a lasting representation of UC Berkeley’s commitment to sustainability, through a beautiful vertical garden.

Pugh et al. (2012) showed that vertical gardens can reduce levels of NO2 and fine particulate matter (PM10) in the surrounding area by up to 15% and 23%, respectively. Reductions of this magnitude cannot generally be achieved just by planting trees. These vertical gardens can also reduce wall surface temperatures by up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit via evapotranspirative cooling and provide thermal insulation when outside temperatures drop. Collectively, these features reduce overall energy consumption, and based on the Bechtel garden’s size, an estimated 256 kWh is saved per month.

The garden will also help boost pollinator populations. Native plants in California can attract and sustain wild pollinator populations. The vertical gardens contain several varieties of plants, which benefit pollinators such as native bees (e.g., bumblebee, sweat bee, and mining bee), butterflies (e.g., California tortoiseshell), and humming birds (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1Final design for the vertical garden at the University of California-Berkeley. The ESW chapter considered sustainable/recycled materials, colors, textures, and plant arrangement for our final design. Their wall will incorporate sustainably sourced redwood, recycled mosaic bear, and several species of drought-resistant plants that include California native plants, succulents, herbs, and flowering perennials. (© 2018 Sohn Cook)

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