Escola do Falcão - CMP
The Falcão School encompasses 700 square meters of green area:
"With nature-based solutions implemented as part of the European project “MyBuildingIsGreen,” the space has been serving as an example, and this time, three dozen political decision-makers, municipal technical staff, and representatives from municipal companies, as well as members of the Municipal Environment Council, were able to visit the 700 m² of green roofs, façades, and photovoltaic panels.
The visit to the Falcão School, with the presence of Porto’s Deputy Mayor, Filipe Araújo, and the school’s coordinator, Helena Ribeiro, allowed the group to participate in two workshops where they could observe sustainable solutions in place, recognizing and comparing their characteristics, functions, and advantages over conventional systems.
Landscape architect Ana Mesquita from LandLab and a member of the National Association of Green Roofs, together with Rui Pimenta, administrator of Porto Energy Agency, presented the rainwater harvesting system at the school. Rainwater from both vegetated and non-vegetated roofs is channeled into separate containers, allowing comparative analysis of the water flow, which is then directed to a pond in the nearby community garden. Besides offering strong educational potential, this solution reduces water waste and promotes local biodiversity conservation.
On the school’s ground floor, participants viewed another nature-based solution: a green façade that provides shade to classrooms, especially during hotter days.
On the roof, the team observed the structure and functioning of the green roof, which acts as a garden instead of a conventional roof. These elevated gardens help regulate the building's interior temperature throughout the year and allow for gradual infiltration of rainwater into the soil, aiding in flood prevention.
To support the substrate on the roof, an innovative choice was made: cork layers, replacing traditional plastic materials. This solution is not only eco-friendly but also retains carbon absorbed by cork oak trees, contributing to the school’s carbon footprint neutrality.
Finally, the “biosolar roof” combines the benefits of green roofs with energy production through photovoltaic panels. The presence of plants enhances the efficiency of the energy produced, and currently, about 60% of the energy consumed at the school is generated locally.
The solutions implemented at the Falcão School provide thermal comfort for students and staff, improve energy efficiency, and help protect and promote biodiversity."
