The document describes Huntsman Polyurethanes' VYDRO® foam product, which can be used as a lightweight, water-retaining planting medium for green roofs. VYDRO® foam is a hydrophilic material that stores the optimal balance of air and water to encourage plant growth while weighing significantly less than traditional roofing substrates. It offers advantages such as improved water management, insulation, and biodiversity enhancement for urban environments. The document outlines VYDRO® foam's various applications and installation benefits.

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2. A growing phenomenon
In towns and cities around the world, green
roofs and sky rise gardens are being added
to public and private buildings, transforming
the urban environment.
This quantum shift in the soft landscaping
of metropolitan areas is being driven by the
need to respond to climate change.
Introducing a new architectural dimension
to construction projects, high-rise green
roofs are becoming a standard design
feature in low-energy, sustainable buildings
and are helping to enhance densely
populated city centers.
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3. To support growth in the green roofing
sector, Huntsman has developed a
technically advanced polyurethane-based
foam that can function as a highly effective
planting medium.
VYDRO® foam is a unique hydrophilic
m
aterial that can be employed as the
central technology in a wide range of ‘living’
roof as well as general hydroponic and
agricultural applications.
This novel substrate and smart water
management solution:
• weighs up to 70% less than other
green roofing substrate systems
• can retain up to 30 times its own
weight in water
• has a high water buffering capacity
of between 40-60%
• acts as a heat shield and thermal
aspect (lambda 34 dry)
• and can be rehydrated over
multiple growing cycles.
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4. VYDRO® foam optimizes the conditions
needed for successful plant development.
Its inert, PH-neutral, open structure can
be easily penetrated by plant roots.
It also stores exactly the right balance of
air and water necessary to encourage
rapid foliage growth and improve overall
vegetation coverage.
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5. VYDRO® foam offers substantial weight
savings compared to standard systems.
A one meter cubed area weighs just 30kg.
The same area covered in lava stone would
weigh approximately 1500kg.
This inherent lightness makes VYDRO®
foam suitable for use in projects where weight
and structural strength are critical issues –
for example, in retrofitting older buildings.
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6. VYDRO® foam can also help:
• Improve water management: VYDRO® foam retains rainwater for plant consumption, reducing
run off and minimizing the risk of localized flooding.
• Increase a building’s insulating envelope: Adding VYDRO® foam to a building’s roof can boost
insulation, improve energy efficiency and reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 5%.
• Reduce the impact of urbanization: VYDRO® foam can be planted with vegetation that filters out
polluting particles and improves urban air quality.
• Decrease the Urban Heat Island Effect (UHIE): Cities can be up to 10 degrees hotter than rural
areas because of the widespread use of heat absorbing materials like concrete and asphalt. Using
VYDRO® foam to add extra foliage to metropolitan areas reduces this problem.
• Improve biodiversity: Green roofs based on VYDRO® foam provide a safe refuge for native insect,
bird and animal species that might otherwise struggle to thrive in an environment dominated by
concrete, glass and other hard landscaping materials.
• Counter urban sprawl: VYDRO® foam can help create a more aesthetically pleasing built
environment. Green roofs based on this innovative technology can offer a sanctuary away from busy
city life. They can also reduce noise pollution by cutting down the number of hard surfaces that
sound reflects off.
• Reduce building maintenance costs: VYDRO® foam green roofs can dramatically increase a roof’s
life expectancy by shielding it from inclement weather.
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7. VYRDO® foam can be employed in
‘intensive’, recreational green roof projects
that are designed to be used frequently
by a building’s occupants as a functional
outdoor space.
It is also ideal for use in ‘extensive’ green
roofs that are inaccessible and are planted
with slow-growing succulents like sedum
that require little or no maintenance.
VYDRO® foam can also be utilized in the
manufacture of flowerpots and installation
of vertical green wall projects.
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8. VYDRO® foam can be compressed,
vacuum packed and easily shaped.
This dramatically simplifies transportation
and installation logistics, saving roofing
applicators significant amounts of time
and money.
The system can be delivered in different
formats depending on customer requirements.
It is available as either an eggshell slab or
in flake or pellet form to mix with soil or
other organic substrates. It can also be
colored to blend in with surroundings and
planting schemes.
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