by Brianna Crandall — July 30, 2014—Following its original debut in 2008, Green Living Technologies International (GLTi) has now revamped the “GLTi Plug and Play Living Wall.” Successful trials and configurations to the updated Plug and Play Living Wall led to a new product that is now in full production, announces GLTi.
The GLTi Plug and Play living wall, created for use on interior and regional exterior applications, is manufactured from the same high-quality recycled aluminum as the exterior GLTi Living Wall, which is preferred by the LEED certification program over plastic.
The Plug and Play is a modular panel assembly with an impervious back wall with a series of horizontal plant holders. The modular panel configuration provides fluid connectivity of the unit through gravitational water transfer from panel to panel, with no additional hardware or plumbing.
The GLTi Plug and Play can be manufactured in sections as large as 8′ high x 3′ wide. The assembly has a built-in impervious backing and a built-in bracket, and requires only two pieces of hardware. Mounted off the wall, the Plug and Play allows for air flow between the mounting surface and the panels, preventing condensation and eliminating the need for any vapor barrier or waterproofing membrane, saving hundreds, says the company.
The assembly can be mounted on various surfaces, as a freestanding unit or as a picture wall do-it-yourself kit. It reportedly requires 90 percent less hardware and 75 percent less labor than any other living wall, meaning fewer penetrations and therefore fewer opportunities for leaks, and a fast, noninvasive installation.
The modular assembly can accommodate 4″ and 8″ nursery stock—anything from herbs to full-sized produce, tropical plants and annuals. Plants can be easily swapped out for seasonal displays, notes GLTi. Plant health is reportedly guaranteed, and there is a lifetime warranty available.
The company claims that 90 plants can be installed in 10 minutes, or over 5,000 plants in less than 24 hours. The assembly is precisely calculated for zero waste water, with no requirement for an internal drain, reservoirs, float valves or ultraviolet (UV) treatments, says the company—just “Plug and Play.”
