Project GrünStadtKlima

The GrünStadtKlima project aimed to boost innovation and sales in the field of building greenery and permeable road/surface construction. To achieve this goal, landscape, spatial planning, meteorological, and economic studies were conducted. The focus is on improving existing construction methods for roof and vertical greening as well as permeable surface pavements and developing new construction methods (e.g., thin-layer Pannonian roof turf, soil-free vertical greening, use of new aggregates).

The basic prerequisite for the successful marketing of these construction methods is the predictability of their properties. Therefore, in addition to material parameters such as grain size distribution, microclimatic, water management, and thermal insulation properties, vegetation development, CO₂ storage potential, and cleaning performance were comprehensively investigated. Using a virtual model city, the properties and effects of the construction methods on the water balance and microclimate were calculated and their medium- and long-term significance was also modelled with the aid of climate models. The findings from the simulations were used to derive targets for the urban climate and water balance and to develop spatial planning instruments for the authorities that made these targets achievable. In addition, a study was conducted to demonstrate the impact of greening on the value and marketability of real estate. Based on a cost-benefit analysis, a planning guide for property developers was created and corresponding new funding guidelines for residential construction were developed in collaboration with the consortium.

The project output has been summarized on the following website and is available to the public at the link below: http://www.gruenstadtklima.at

Further project information:

https://forschung.boku.ac.at/en/projects/8263

Contact persons at BOKU University: DI Dr. Bernhard Scharf und Priv.-Doz. DI Dr. Ulrike Pitha