How a living wall saved 42% of a building’s energy consumption per year
Living walls undeniably deliver visual impact. They soften hard architecture, introduce nature into dense environments, and can change how a space feels. Yet for asset owners, developers, and operators, the more pressing question is not whether living walls look good, but whether a living wall system can deliver measurable value over time.
Increasingly, the answer is YES.
While the upfront cost of a living wall garden or living plant wall system can be clearly quantified, its benefits were historically considered difficult to measure. That is no longer the case. A growing body of evidence now links green wall systems to improved energy performance, reduced operational costs, and enhanced asset resilience.
One of the most widely cited examples is a study of the Marks & Spencer store at Cheshire Oaks in Ellesmere Port. The building is clad with one of the company’s largest living green walls – 300m2 in total and includes 30 plant species – designed as part of a broader sustainability strategy.
The results speak for themselves: the living wall system at Cheshire Oaks acts as a natural insulating layer. During winter, it reduced overnight heat loss by 8 °C, helping to stabilise internal temperatures and reduce heating requirements. In the warmer months, evapotranspiration from vegetation helps cool the atmosphere, reducing reliance on mechanical systems.
This living wall installation reduced overnight heat loss from 9 °C to 1 °C in the winter months, demonstrating a significant drop in energy and heating requirements each day.
A Building Performance Evaluation
A Building Performance Evaluation study was carried out by Faithful & Gould after the project’s completion, which concluded:
“The holistic approach taken to designing the store’s sustainable features has resulted in it being 42% more energy efficient, with 40% lower carbon emission per square foot than a benchmark M&S store. The use of highly innovative building materials such as hempcrete and its exceptional air tightness has resulted in the store using 60% less heating fuel than predicted…”
Based on this data, Life on Walls estimates potential energy savings of approximately £150,000 per annum.
M&S Cheshire Oaks
Integrated rainwater harvesting
Water management also plays a role in the financial equation. At Cheshire Oaks, the living wall is irrigated using harvested rainwater, with 1,300 litres of rainwater per day during the summer months. By integrating rainwater harvesting into the living wall, operational water costs are reduced while pressure on stormwater drainage infrastructure is eased.
As energy and water efficiency become increasingly material to operating margins, living walls are being reconsidered as an investment rather than a decorative feature. Over time, energy savings and reduced exposure to weathering can help recoup the initial installation cost, particularly when living wall systems are designed with durability and maintenance efficiency in mind.
Financial returns
There are additional forms of value that sit alongside direct financial returns. Green wall systems can contribute to surface water attenuation, helping mitigate flood risk in urban areas that experience intense rainfall. Living walls applications increasingly form part of wider sustainable drainage and resilience strategies, particularly for public spaces and commercial assets. A net increase in biodiversity onsite has also been reported (Science Direct).
However, not all payback is measured purely in pounds. Living walls have a well-documented impact on wellbeing. The plants in vertical gardens absorb solar heat through their foliage and reduce the temperature in the city by evapotranspiration and absorb sound, which leads to a comfortable and pleasant space in urban areas. A plant wall (indoor or outdoor) can also reduce stress, encourage calm, and improve user experience in a space. These effects are especially relevant in workplaces, healthcare environments, hospitality settings, and residential developments where comfort, dwell time, and perception matter (MDPI).
When viewed holistically, living walls are no longer simply an aesthetic improvement. They are part of a broader shift towards buildings that perform better environmentally, economically, and socially. As evidence continues to grow, living walls are increasingly recognised as a credible upgrade to long-term asset strategy.
For more information on how you can upgrade your asset with nature,