Defining Climate Action: greenscreen
Defining Climate Action is a series of interviews with leaders and up-and-comers from the all-encompassing environmental sector about the popular, yet misunderstood term ‘Climate Action’.
If we as people of this planet are going to work together towards saving our environment, we need a unified, clear vision of our future and the actions to get there. In this series I interview experts in various fields from agriculture to waste, buildings to transportation and everything in between about what climate action means to them. These interviews are meant to share how to save a planet in an easy-to-understand way for the everyday person and seasoned professional.
For the launch of this new series I am going BIG and GREEN!
I had the pleasure of speaking with Amé Flournoy, the Director of Customer Service of the innovative green wall company, greenscreen®, based out of sunny Los Angeles. Amé has been in the green façade business for over 10 years and is a strong advocate of the multitude of benefits they provide. Coming from Toronto, with its cold winter months, I don’t see too many large outdoor green walls so greenscreen’s installations really caught my eye and I wanted to share their beauty and practicality…Rather I wanted an expert to share her experience and knowledge. So let’s dig into it!
How did you get to where you are today?
You could say my path has been pretty eventful at greenscreen. I started here as an office assistant, moved to an admin assistant followed by logistics manager then project manager, and now I’m the Director of Customer Service. I love to learn and that allowed me to quickly pick up the skills needed to perform well in each position. My educational background is in fashion design and apparel manufacturing — I studied at FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) and LA Trade Tech. I feel that fine tuned my eye for detail and creativity in project management. Working at greenscreen actually sparked my passion for green design and sustainability, it inspired me to want to learn more.
What is a green screen system and what does it do?
Our greenscreen system is a 3-dimensional architectural wire trellis system that is easily used to add a green element to any project. You’ll find us used as fencing, mounted to walls or steel, curved around columns and even horizontal overhead panels. It’s our mission to produce the highest quality green wall products with the lowest environmental impact. Green walls introduce nature and its biophilic benefits to spaces indoors and outdoors. Studies have shown that exposure to natural elements boosts happiness and health. Green walls contribute to healthy indoor spaces and increase productivity, there are so many benefits!
What is the future that you and greenscreen are trying to create?
The future that greenscreen sees is one where mindfulness exists. Legacy and the impression we leave on each project is important to us. Our mission is to leave as light of a footprint in respect to carbon load and as large an impact in our stewardship to the planet.
This series, Defining Climate Action, illustrates what climate action means to professionals in the environmental realm and what actions they are taking. What does it mean to you and how is it present in the work you do?
I don’t have a background in science, many of us don’t. But we don’t need that background to respond to all the signs of climate change we are witnessing and being affected by. Even if we aren’t personally feeling the impacts as strongly as some, it’s my opinion that we should naturally want to respond with actions that create a healthier environment for everyone. I see climate action present in every greenscreen panel we manufacture. Every single panel is a canvas for vine growth. When that vine or other plant populates that panel, a symbiotic relationship begins. That green façade now cleans the surrounding air, provides oxygen, cools the environment, and creates a habitat for other living things. This single panel has a powerful ripple effect in the space it’s in. It’s amazing to me!
In your perspective, who should be installing green wall systems for the biggest impact ?
We work with all types of organizations and building types, from national retailers, government buildings, parking garages, hospitals, parks…the list really goes on. Everyone is paying attention to the positive impacts of green elements now, because everyone can benefit from them.
As for biggest impact, I really believe green systems should be present in every school. In LA the elementary school grounds are all dry, hot concrete. There’s nothing to mitigate heat nor any visual inspiration for the kids. Green walls would help with wellness, they would offer an educational element to teach children about nature, and foster relationships with living creatures. I’m happy that we are seeing more schools install green walls or green roofs, but all schools should have green spaces.
In Toronto, where I’m located, most vegetation loses foliage for nearly half the year, which is quite different from California. I’d love to see more greenery here, how can a green façade work in a northern climate?
We have actually successfully provided our panels to many contractors in Canada over the years — green wall systems grow well in hot and cold regions. It really depends on the right plants for your climate. I find that projects in Canada tend to involve installations where the intent is not just to grow vines on the panels, but also enhance outdoor spaces with interactive elements.
A creative use of signage can be seen at the Feldman Sensory Garden in Toronto. Then there’s the Place du Centennaire in Quebec that incorporates both signage and lighting. You are left with the impression that the seasons and natural behavior of local plants was considered so that the installation is enjoyable year around.
We also worked with the Green Roof Innovation Testing Laboratory (GRIT Lab) at the University of Toronto. The possibilities are limitless. A great thing about green façades is that maintenance is quite minimal especially after the plant material and rooting systems have been established.
What’s something that has shocked you throughout your years of working in this field?
One thing that still shocks me to this day is the use of fake petroleum-based foliage in some green façade projects. Fake plants are typically chosen to fulfil an instant need to see a fully green wall but often the harmful off-gassing by those products is overlooked.
Then there’s the missed opportunity of long-term benefits to the environment that a green wall made up of real plants provides. I hope that with more education about plant behavior and growth patterns, as well as appreciation for the beauty of seasons, there can be less fake plants and more natural flora.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about greenscreen, sustainability, or life?
Never stop learning. The day you lose curiosity is the day personal growth ends.
