GROOF - Greenhouses to Reduce CO2 on Roofs

GROOF COACHING

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a major international concern in the fight against global warming, which threatens our entire ecosystem. The construction sector obviously has a key role to play and, if the energy renovation of buildings is one of the ways to contribute, another solution could well come from higher up... let's look up and seriously consider the potential of our roofs! 

In this context, many European countries are involved in the "GROOF" project, for "Greenhouses to Reduce CO2 on RooFs", with the support of the INTERREG NWE program.

The first coaching sessions took place from 2019 to 2021 with 5 early adopters who could benefit from the expertise of our experts.

2022 marks a new year of coaching with 10 new projects selected, coached by our team of experts. 

Our expertise

• Construction

Knowledge and expertise in construction design, stability, materials, technical assessment, calculation, risk analysis. Specialisms in roofing and structure. Knowledge in material behaviour and innovative combination. Skills in technical project analysis.

• Energy

Analysis of the energy flows of the existing building and the project itself, counselling for techniques and measurements to reduce energy demand and implement existing flows to reduce CO2 emissions.

• Production

The plant production expertise consists both in the design of plant production systems and the management of production. This includes knowledge in growing system, plant nutrition, light, pest and disease management, practical organisation of the work, etc...

• Economic viability

Emphasis on the viability and durability of the candidates’ project, with the respect of the candidates’ vision. This includes evaluating the stakeholders, the cultural & geographical context, the social fabric, the environmental ambitions, the key threats, etc.

All those 10 projects bring together different greenhouse techniques (hydroponic greenhouses, aquaponics, soil-based vegetable gardens, etc.) as well as different types of projects (educational, social, private, etc.) but all of them focus on ecology and the respect for environmental values.

DISCOVER THE EARLY ADOPTERS FROM THE 1st COACHING (2019 - 2021)

First coaching: already 10 projects coached since 2019

From September 2019 to September 2020, GROOF has already supported 10 greenhouse projects exclusively located on rooftops, for a total of 175 hours of individual coaching and 5 on-site visits to help them build, develop and implement their project. Then, 5 projects have been selected to pursue the coaching in phase 2 and accelerate their implementation.

DISCOVER THE EARLY ADOPTERS FROM THE 2nd COACHING (2022 - 2023)

Four Pilot Projects

The GROOF project is investing in four pilots, designed to prove the effectiveness and durability of the models related to different building types, in Belgium, Germany, France and in Luxembourg.

Read more on each project below.

DISCOVER THE INTERIM RESULTS OF THE GROOF PROJECT

The potentials of synergies between buildings and integrated rooftop greenhouses are described in previous reports and articles. This article provides an overview of the interim results of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) of the GROOF pilots. For this topic, the research institutes HS Trier /
IfaS and CSTB have developed a method as well as reference scenarios to compare the GROOF pilots with a commercial greenhouse vegetable production.

→ Fermes de Gally - Pilot

Paris, France

Urban roofs remain a little exploited space on which agriculture can develop and provide sustainable solutions to food, economic and climate issues in the city. A new stage in this urban agricultural development is therefore to create greenhouses on the roof that are totally integrated into the building's flow: in particular heat, water and CO₂.
In this context, our greenhouse project on the roof of the Ferme Urbaine de St Denis consists of the construction and operation of a productive vegetable garden of 360 m² on the roof of the office and workshop building of the Ferme de St Denis, an urban farm run by les Fermes de Gally. This project will produce hydroponic and substrate agricultural products sold locally, in addition to farm production in the ground.
The greenhouse will have to work in synergy with the support building. Its location on the roof offers the advantage of enhancing the flat roof surface and thus preserve the floor space for the activities of the Kersanté Farm of St Denis (FKSD in the following). This feature will also allow it to easily connect to the heating and ventilation network of the building to recover heat and CO₂, contained in the stale air, necessary for the cultivation of plants.

Follow the project of Construction21: Ferme de Gally - FRANCE

→ Université de Liège - Pilot

Gembloux, Belgium

The urban greenhouse of the TERRA building is part of the WASABI platform which brings together in one location all the innovative agricultural production systems adapted to the city and in dialogue with biodiversity. The platform and the urban greenhouse is an institutional project supported by Gembloux Agro Bio-Tech and ULiège.

The urban greenhouse will have an area of ​​198m² and will be divided into three compartments dedicated to research, teaching and demonstration of innovative systems adapted to urban agriculture. The main compartment (132 m²) will be dedicated to research only and will host experiments related to urban agriculture (hydroponics, aquaponics and bio-ponics). The second compartment will be dedicated to the demonstration and experimentation of innovative systems, both for students and for other publics. The third compartment will be used as technical hall. The greenhouse will reproduce conditions suitable for temperate crops such as lettuce and tomato. This greenhouse will be characterized by an accurate climate control, the production system will be modular in order to grow different crops.

Follow the project of Construction21: Université de Liège - BELGIUM

Watch the video "A rooftop greenhouse at the WASABI centre in Gembloux (Belgium)" HERE

→ EBF - pilot

Bürstadt, Germany

The ebf pilot is a Sunlight greenhouse, which is a modern approach to the classical lean-to concept. It is a greenhouse which is focused on minimal energy demand and utilizing existing energy flows to achieve a year-round operation. In combination with an internally mounted photovoltaic shadowing system, the greenhouse is becoming the worlds first plus energy greenhouse.

The pilot will be installed on an old packaging hall of a former nursery which is now being reinstated by ebf to show how a futureproof and sustainable horticulture business can look like. It will unite modern plant production technics with a social aspect of creating a community starting from an early age. The rooftop greenhouse will be implemented in the whole operation harboring specialized plants like chili peppers which can be harvested all year. Furthermore, the schools and kindergardens of the surrounding area will participate in the operation. Here, they have the possibility to learn and share the knowledge for food production. This gives the opportunity to help people reconnect with food production and give them back the responsibilty for their own food security.

Follow the project of Construction21: EBF - GERMANY

→ SOTA - Pilot

Bettembourg, Luxembourg

The IFSB pilot project will be installed on the extension of its company restaurant. The size of the greenhouse will be 18 x 20 m. The rooftop greenhouse will be located near the training site and will house plants that can be used directly in the restaurant below.

Here, the idea is to integrate a food production greenhouse above a restaurant. A reconnection between local food production and people in order to raise awareness about their food. In addition, a corridor will allow visibility over the production area without disturbing it.

The connection to the building to recover CO₂ and heat makes sense for the construction sector. Indeed, this sector in Luxembourg will thus be able to have a project integrated into the building allowing a recovery of CO2, a future challenge for this sector.

Follow the project of Construction21: SOTA- LUXEMBOURG

Groof Partners

GROOF project is coordinated by the CDEC (Conseil pour le Développement Economique de la Construction), with the support of the INTERREG NWE programme, and carried out with eleven partners (public and private) from Luxembourg, France, Belgium, Germany and Spain.

Each partner brings valuable skills and knowledge to the project such as construction process and methodology, building energy management, urban agriculture development, knowledge of plants and cropping systems, entrepreneurial skills, socio-economic skills, etc.

Find the partners interviews here.

With the support of the Walloon Region

Press

                                                                    MEDIA TOOLKIT

• Logos

• Open Call Presentation

• Open Call visuals

• Guidelines Presentation

Contacts

THE FINAL EVENT

Since 2017, the GROOF project partners have joined efforts to encourage the utilisation of rooftop greenhouses in Northwestern Europe.

The Final Event allowed to present all the deliverables form the projet, encouraged the discussion and showed all participants concrete cases.