Abstract

Building-integrated vegetation systems, such as living walls (LW), are becoming common tools for improving the sustainability of cities as well as an aesthetic resource. When used indoors, LW usually require a lighting system to ensure both an adequate plant development and a correct appearance. In this study, six commercial LED lighting systems are tested in order to assess their suitability for the proper performance of LW. The LW monitored were composed of two plant species (Soleirolia soleirolii and Spathiphyllum wallisii) frequently used in indoor LW. All the lamps tested (Aster and Dahlia of Ignia Green, Logar CMH, CLH and Forum of Lledo) proved to be apt for their use to light LW (except for the case of CF-UT01 of Panda Grow), as they showed a favourable performance in terms of plant development, with few differences between them in biomass production and green cover. The tested Aster (Ignia Green) and Logar CMH (Lledo) lamp models were not efficient for long distances between the vegetation and the light source. Despite these results, as illumination is one of the factors that determines the indoor ambience, aesthetics and viewers' preferences were also studied. According to the observers' perception, the Dahlia model (Ignia Green) was preferred by 54.4 % of the respondents, while the rest of the lamps were preferred less.