BeeGreen

With BeeGreen, we aim at reducing the production of carbon footprint in large and medium-sized cities by creating an ecosystem of plants planted on buildings. Secondly, we are supplying cities with bees, which help with the proliferation of flowers and vegetation in the urban agglomeration and the natural growth of plants on buildings. Thirdly, we can supply local catering outlets (honey produced in cities is often much healthier than that grown in the countryside, due to the use of pesticides by farmers). Fourthly, green gardens on buildings lower the temperature - they create a natural thermal barrier by cooling the block on sunny days, and provide additional insulation in winter, which means a potential decrease in the use of air conditioning and heating systems. Last but not least, our Solution would increase biodiversity in urban areas.

Our solution involves creating 'vertical gardens' - that is, growing vegetation on the windowless walls of apartment blocks in large and medium-sized cities, and raising bees on the roofs of these buildings. This would create a symbiotic ecosystem that would contribute to reducing air pollution and improving the standard of living of city dwellers. This solution provides an increase in the comfort and enjoyment of the outdoors in cities by improving the quality of the air inhaled, as well as influencing the aesthetic value of urban buildings. Furthermore, in the long term, the implementation of this concept on a larger scale would contribute to improving the health of residents.

BeeGreeny primarily serves residents of large and medium-sized cities. By improving air quality, it contributes to the health of the population by reducing the risk of diseases, in particular: cardiovascular diseases (such as atherosclerosis) and respiratory diseases (such as irritation of the epidermis and mucous membranes, upper respiratory tract inflammation, allergic diseases, asthma, cancers of the lungs, throat and larynx). In addition, by providing an increase in biodiversity in urban areas, reducing atmospheric pollution and ensuring lower perceptible temperatures in cities, BeeGreeny would contribute to reducing the ill effects of human activities on the environment.

As we live and study in our country's capital, Warsaw, we see the impact of concrete construction on the wellbeing of the inhabitants and the aesthetics of the urban space on a daily basis. We are concerned about the diminishing amount of greenery at a frightening rate, which is being replaced by new high-rise buildings. We personally experience scorching temperatures in summer, which are perceptibly exacerbated by the all-pervading concrete. The successive felling of trees is driving many residents to frustration. We want to change this and make the city's image more friendly.

After conducting a thorough research on the types of plants as well as on the species of bees most relevant to our Solution, we ran a test on a wall of an apartment building (2,5m^2) in Warsaw. We chose wild vine as the plant, but the choice of plant depends on the climate and the region so that the plants do not become an invasive species.

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BeeGreen is an innovative solution because of its unconventional approach to the arrangement of urban green space. While vegetated areas are mostly parks and squares, we propose a solution to provide vegetation in a vertical orientation, without taking up valuable space for potential construction sites. In addition, we plan to combine greenery with the keeping of bees, the protection of which is increasingly important these days.

We will be able to create ecosystems that can transform cities by making them more healthy. There is no great innovation in this, the great innovation is to put these things into practice, which nobody has quite done.

Within a year we want to send letters of intent to building developers and start a full-scale MVP. We will establish a partnership with beekeepers who will supply us with stingless bees to ensure the safety of residents if they are allergic to bee venom. Within five years we want all the latest buildings to be equipped with our solutions.

We can certainly provide better health and cleaner cities. Cleaner air in the cities and psychologically it will reflect on the inhabitants. We are supporting biodiversity in cities, which is where it is endangered. 

1. Increase biodiversity: By creating a habitat for plants and bees, the project can help increase biodiversity in urban areas, which is important for maintaining healthy ecosystems and supporting the survival of pollinators and other species.

2. Improve air quality: Plants on buildings can help reduce air pollution by absorbing carbon dioxide and other pollutants, while bees play a critical role in pollinating plants, which helps them grow and absorb more pollutants.

3. Enhance food security: Bees are important pollinators of many food crops, and by creating a habitat for bees, the project can help enhance food security in urban areas.

4. Promote community engagement: The project can also promote community engagement by involving local residents in the creation and maintenance of the ecosystem. This can foster a sense of ownership and pride in the community, while also providing opportunities for education and awareness-raising on environmental issues.

Overall, the theory of change for this project is based on the belief that creating a sustainable ecosystem based on plants and bees can have multiple positive impacts on the environment and society, and that this can be achieved through community engagement, education, and action.

Well, nature!

In our organisation we focus on equality, at the moment there are four men and one woman, in the future we would like more women to join our ranks as well as people from other cultures to promote the project worldwide.

We are going to change the urban world by offering people less pollution, more biodiversity, lower electricity bills, less heat evaporating from buildings and, of course, honey.

Our business model will be based on grants from cities that want to be more 'green'. We could also sell honey to help fund the project itself. The main beneficiary will be the developers of the buildings, who know that more and more people want to live in a cleaner city.

We have currently contributed our own money to the prototype.