Integration of vegetation in the construction

Sustainable development requires consideration of a number of interconnected elements, such as reducing energy demand and water consumption, minimizing waste and pollution, and providing efficient public transportation. Under this “sustainable construction” approach, closing material and water cycles, as well as reducing energy consumption, are the main objectives in the building sector. In this context, the concept of Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) has been defined as a set of man-made but nature-based building systems, such as green roofs and vertical greening systems. UGI provides several eco-services to the urban environment, such as reducing surface runoff in large cities, reducing the heat island effect, supporting biodiversity -from insects to birds-, improving the durability of waterproofing membranes, and saving energy in buildings, among others.