What could sustainable solutions for preserving our green spaces look like?
Storms, Sahara heat, drought – these were frequent buzzwords in the media in the summer of 2019, both in regional and national newspapers. A series of thunderstorms in early June was followed by record temperatures and drought. There was hardly any heavy or widespread rainfall. Newspapers such as "Die Zeit" and "Süddeutsche Zeitung" directly linked the threat to parks, green belts, and historic garden landscapes to climate change, and called for sustainable solutions. For example, Michael Hörmann, head of the German Palaces and Gardens Association, warned that tried-and-tested concepts are no longer sufficient and that sustainable solutions are needed. Preserving the parks requires more intensive maintenance and greater investment: He estimates that the effects of climate change will result in additional costs of €100,000 per year for gardens measuring 50 to 70 hectares.
The effects of the extreme weather conditions were felt directly, especially in the cities: Germany's parks and gardens suffered and sustained visible damage. In some places, parks were closed for extended periods. Almost every region complained about the threat to green spaces and trees – some of them old and valuable tree stands, including in the Rhine-Main area. In the Offenbach metropolitan area alone, 500 trees had to be felled.
Parks and meadows, which are crucial for a pleasant climate in major cities and also contribute to the recreational value of our metropolitan regions, are at risk due to the dry summers of recent years. But corporate green spaces and private gardens are also suffering. They barely recover over the fall and winter, as precipitation is also lower in the cooler seasons.
The cost factor of green space also affects companies
The issue has reached municipalities, and parks departments have incorporated the sustainable preservation of green spaces into their planning. However, the former head of the City of Frankfurt's Parks Department, Stephan Heldmann, also notes that planting new trees alone is not enough. Overall, cities face the challenge of adequately irrigating their green spaces and planting them with heat- and drought-tolerant tree species.
But companies with large green spaces, such as car dealerships or Frankfurt Airport, are also fighting to preserve their green spaces. In addition to the climate aspect, there is also a significant cost factor when meadows and flowerbeds have to be replanted annually, and additional staff becomes necessary, and water bills are high. Sports and golf courses are also affected. Overall, solutions are needed that ensure the efficient and long-term preservation of urban green spaces – and here, there are both interesting greening concepts and innovative irrigation technologies that can achieve enormous effects.
Reinforced irrigation systems and greening help
This is where the systems used by Wassermann360 come into play. The company specializes in the sustainable irrigation and greening of urban green spaces, facilities, corporate premises, and home gardens. Wassermann360 works with technologies from leading American manufacturer Rain Bird, for example.
Once the irrigation systems are installed underground, they can be programmed and controlled with the LNK WiFi module. The module connects to a smartphone via the local network, allowing a company's facility manager or even a private homeowner to efficiently regulate the watering of their green spaces. The software app adjusts watering requirements to the time of year or day, ensuring trees and lawns receive the amount of water they need. This is practical and saves water, where hoses and sprinklers would otherwise be wasted because the soil's surface can barely absorb it in dry conditions.
Green roofs represent a solution for improving the climate, as they can store up to 80 percent of rainwater and slowly evaporate it again. They produce oxygen, filter polluted air, absorb radiation, and thus improve the overall climate. They are particularly financially viable for industrial and administrative buildings, large halls, and schools. They can significantly reduce the performance of large air conditioning systems. Modern methods and materials ensure the long-term success of green roofs.
The Urbanscape green roof system from Knauf Insolation GmbH is a complete system that enables sustainable green roofing. It consists of a root protection layer, a drainage system (with or without water storage), a unique, patented mineral wool growth mat, and a vegetation layer. Depending on local and climatic conditions, an irrigation system can be integrated. The Urbanscape green roof system has been tested for its resistance to flying sparks and radiant heat and is therefore applicable in accordance with state building regulations. It can effectively support the solution of many problems, particularly urban ones, such as stormwater management: for example, it significantly reduces and delays stormwater runoff.
Next summer is sure to come, so it's good if companies, municipalities, and private individuals plan for irrigation early enough. Because only with lasting solutions can the green spaces in our cities remain intact and be preserved. Wassermann360 https://wassermann360.de advises on the planning, installation, and services related to sustainable irrigation systems.