Revamped green space at Neues Marktplatz: Introducing mobile gardens
Cooling Mobile Vertical Gardens Enhance Neuwied's Climate Adaptation Efforts
In response to the harsh heatwave that affected Germany, the city of Neuwied has taken innovative steps to improve cooling in densely populated urban areas. Four mobile vertical gardens, equipped with high-pressure mist systems, have been installed on the Neuwied market square.
These mobile vertical gardens, developed in cooperation with the Technical University of Bingen from 2018 to 2022, aim to provide refreshment and increase biodiversity in the city. They are part of Neuwied's efforts to adapt to climate change and make the city more livable and sustainable.
The mist system, activated by touching a sensor, operates for about a minute at a time. It provides cooling primarily through evaporative cooling: the fine mist produced by high-pressure nozzles rapidly evaporates, absorbing heat from the surrounding air and lowering ambient temperature around the plants and garden structure. The mist system consumes only two to three liters of water per hour, making it a relatively water-efficient solution.
Maintenance requirements for these systems include periodic cleaning of nozzles to prevent clogging, winterizing to avoid water residue freeze and damage, and ensuring filters or water lines are free of contaminants. Since these gardens are mobile and outdoors, maintenance also involves plant care like watering, pruning, and monitoring plant health.
The "MobiGa" systems, as these mobile vertical gardens are called, collect rainwater for irrigation. They have already proven successful in numerous cities in Germany and Switzerland, providing up to 12 degrees of cooling on hot summer days.
For questions about the mobile gardens, contact Daniel Ragonese, Neuwied's climate adaptation manager, at 02631/802 144 or [email protected]. Due to limited space in urban areas, innovative solutions like the "MobiGa" systems are essential to improving cooling and making cities more livable and sustainable in the face of climate change.
[1] Smart Mist USA. (n.d.). High-Pressure Misting System. Retrieved from https://www.smartmist.com/high-pressure-misting-systems
[3] MistingDirect. (n.d.). High-Pressure Misting Systems. Retrieved from https://www.mistingdirect.com/high-pressure-misting-systems
- Environmental science studies have shown that the installation of these mobile vertical gardens, like the ones in Neuwied, can contribute significantly to sustainable living by reducing urban heat islands and promoting biodiversity in city environments.
- As people continue to adapt their lifestyles to combat climate change, increasing interest is seen in home and garden designs that incorporate elements of environmental science, such as sustainable living vertical gardens like the "MobiGa" system.
- Part of climate-change adaptation for cities includes the integration of innovative technologies, including high-pressure mist systems found in mobile vertical gardens, to create cooling effects that support the scientific efforts towards a more livable, sustainable urban environment.
