European Federation of Green Roof and Green Wall Associations (EFB)’s Post

Can you believe transforming a wall like this costs less than installing one traffic light? Cities can spend around €300,000 to install one traffic light — depending on location and complexity. But a 250 m² vertical garden can cost half of that! Here’s the crazy part - it costs about the same to maintain one traffic light for a year as it does to maintain a 250 m² vertical garden. Our cities invest heavily in managing traffic but almost nothing in bringing nature back into urban spaces. Imagine if we had as many green walls as traffic lights. In Paris, this old, grey, lifeless concrete wall was transformed into a beautiful vertical garden—for half the cost of a single traffic light. This 250 m² green wall, with 7,600 plants from 240 species, does so much more than look beautiful: ◾ It creates a home for birds and insects. ◾ It cleans the air, improving the environment for everyone. ◾ It cools the building and surrounding streets, reducing the urban heat. ◾ It helps block noise, making the city quieter and more peaceful. This project, designed by Patrick Blanc, proves that even the most forgotten spaces can be turned into something alive and thriving. Let’s demand our tax money to make our cities greener, healthier, and better for everyone. At BIOTONOMY, we believe it’s time to prioritize bringing nature back into our cities. If you agree, share this message, and let’s together inspire more people to join the movement to transform our cities with nature! #Biotonomy #UrbanTransformation #VerticalGarden #GreenerCities