Future-proof Renovation of Healthcare Facility Lunet Rapelenberg through Implementation of Green Roof and Green Walls

Healthcare facility Lunet Rapelenberg in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, has undergone a sustainable metamorphosis, focusing on both aesthetic renewal and environmentally conscious renovation. By installing a green roof and green walls, the complex is being futureproofed.

Sustainable Building for a Healthy Living Environment

A crucial part of this sustainable approach is the utilization of the MobiPanel-system for green walls. Lunet Rapelenberg has installed green walls above the entrance and on the sides of the building, with a total area of approximately 64m² and featuring 10 different types of plants, taking into account the orientation of the façade. The green walls are controlled by an automatic irrigation system, partially using rainwater collected on the green-yellow-blue roof. This contributes to climate-resilient building and creates a healthy living environment with improved air purification and temperature regulation.

Positive Effects of Green Roof and Green Walls

The initial positive results are already apparent, with a significant 37% decrease in gas consumption compared to last year and an increase in biodiversity around the buildings. This is enhanced by the installation of bee hotels and nest boxes around the green walls, attracting important pollinators.

Overall, the project at Rapelenberg demonstrates how green initiatives coupled with technological innovations such as the green wall system can have a positive impact on the environment, user comfort, and biodiversity. “Establishing a green-yellow-blue roof and green walls does not directly translate into a better energy rating,” explains Rob Jansen of Woningbelang. “But that was not the goal either. Climate adaptation, user comfort, and biodiversity are the big winners. Of course, ensuring the roof is waterproof remains crucial, but in practice, these themes turned out to be perfectly reconcilable.”

Resident Comfort for Humans and Animals

These green initiatives, carried out by Knaapen Groep BV, go beyond energy saving. They contribute to climate adaptation by capturing and reusing rainwater, improve user comfort, and stimulate biodiversity by providing insects with a habitat. “If you create a green roof, you can also create a blue roof, where rainwater temporarily accumulates. For the generation of sustainable energy, the plan came for a yellow roof: the installation of solar panels,” says project leader Henk Snijders. Meanwhile, residents indicated that the indoor climate is far from optimal. “This leads to the idea of ​​also addressing the ventilation system. Because of all that, you become increasingly enthusiastic. That’s why we went very far with this design scheme. A green-blue-yellow roof, new window frames, no more soundproofing boxes, and a heat recovery system.”

Sources: CorporatieMedia and valkenswaard24.nl