EDERA — IoT green wall for urban heat islands

Urban buildings waste enormous amounts of energy and contribute significantly to the heat island effect in cities. At the same time, most companies have yet to make any investment in environmental solutions. Edera was born from the idea that a plant wall could do more than look good — it could actively measure and certify the CO2 it absorbs, turning a building facade into a verifiable climate asset. The technology came from over 30 years of IoT and environmental monitoring research at the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio.

• Problem framing We mapped the gap between the urgent need to improve building energy efficiency and the lack of affordable, certified green solutions for small and medium businesses. The Italian building stock is largely pre-1991 and energy-inefficient, creating a large untapped market.
• Product concept We designed a modular ventilated green wall built on a lightweight metal frame, with pre-grown ivy panels, an intelligent irrigation system and custom IoT electronics. The structure acts both as thermal insulation and as a living CO2 absorber.
• Carbon Sensing technology The core innovation is a proprietary sensor that monitors CO2 levels in the surrounding air by tracking the nutrient uptake of the plants during photosynthesis. This indirect measurement, processed by a firmware algorithm, allows precise real-time quantification of CO2 reduction — the first system of its kind operating outside a controlled laboratory environment.
• Business model The certified carbon credits generated by each installation can be sold on the carbon market, giving clients a tangible financial return on top of the environmental and aesthetic benefits. This made the product particularly attractive to companies seeking ESG credentials and access to Superbonus and Ecobonus incentives.
• Go-to-market We focused on three B2B segments: local companies with environmental commitments, residential buildings undergoing renovation, and the hospitality industry. Production and logistics were fully outsourced; the team concentrated on R&D, design and customer experience.

• Winner Start Cup Lazio — 4th place researchers track
• Finalist PNICube National Innovation Prize
• Special Prize Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center
• Green&Blue mention — GEDI Group
• Special mention Encubator — Politecnico di Milano