LIVEWIN

In view of the consequences of global warming, the future demand for heat-absorbing building insulation is likely to increase. Advances in technology enable the integration of “smart materials” such as microalgae or cyanobacteria into façades to provide additional functionalities.

The aim of this project is to develop a façade made of microalgae or cyanobacteria that offers the following three benefits: Firstly, improving the thermal insulation of buildings. Secondly, the microorganisms bind CO₂ in urban areas by using unpurified city air underneath a façade panel to produce biomass and oxygen through photosynthesis. This makes a positive contribution to air quality. Thirdly, cyanobacteria can fix nitrogen and produce fertilizer, which is particularly important in agriculture.

The living façade, which serves as a bioreactor for the growth of microalgae or cyanobacteria, is currently being evaluated. It was attached to an existing building wall to reduce solar radiation and improve both thermal insulation and aesthetics. If the evaluation is positive, this pilot project could be extended to other facades in the biology collection building or to other suitable areas on the RWTH campus.

The design and testing of the living algae façade was supported in 2022 as part of the first funding round of the RWTH Sustainability Fund.

The Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), the Institute of Plant Physiology (iPP), and the Institute of Computational Life Science are involved.

Focused SDGs:

SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 13 – Climate Action

Organization unit:

Energy, Chemical & Process Engineering Profile Area (ECPE)