IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v17y2024i20p5090-d1497740.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing the Impact of Vertical Greenery Systems on the Thermal Performance of Walls in Mediterranean Climates

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Nocera

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy)

  • Vincenzo Costanzo

    (Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy)

  • Maurizio Detommaso

    (Department of Electric, Electronics, and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy)

  • Gianpiero Evola

    (Department of Electric, Electronics, and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 64, 95125 Catania, Italy)

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of vertical greenery systems (VGSs) applied to several typical wall configurations on indoor thermal conditions in a building module situated in the Mediterranean climate of Catania, Italy. By means of dynamic simulations in TRNSYS vers.18, the research compares the thermal behavior of walls made of either hollow clay blocks (Poroton) or lava stone blocks against a lightweight wall setup already in place at the University of Catania. The primary focus is on evaluating the VGSs’ capability of reducing peak inner surface temperatures and moderating heat flux fluctuations entering the building. The findings indicate that adding an outer vertical greenery layer to heavyweight walls can decrease the peak inner surface temperature by up to 1.0 °C compared to the same bare wall. However, the greenery’s positive impact is less pronounced than in the case of the lightweight wall. This research underscores the potential of green facades in enhancing the indoor thermal environment in buildings in regions with climates like the Mediterranean one, providing valuable insights for sustainable building design and urban planning.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Nocera & Vincenzo Costanzo & Maurizio Detommaso & Gianpiero Evola, 2024. "Assessing the Impact of Vertical Greenery Systems on the Thermal Performance of Walls in Mediterranean Climates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:20:p:5090-:d:1497740
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/20/5090/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/20/5090/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pérez, Gabriel & Coma, Julià & Sol, Salvador & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2017. "Green facade for energy savings in buildings: The influence of leaf area index and facade orientation on the shadow effect," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 424-437.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Susca, T. & Zanghirella, F. & Colasuonno, L. & Del Fatto, V., 2022. "Effect of green wall installation on urban heat island and building energy use: A climate-informed systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    2. Bakhshoodeh, Reza & Ocampo, Carlos & Oldham, Carolyn, 2022. "Thermal performance of green façades: Review and analysis of published data," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    3. Noemi Caltabellotta & Felicia Cavaleri & Carlo Greco & Kestutis Navickas & Carlo Scibetta & Laura Giammanco, 2019. "Integration of green roofs&walls in urban areas," RIVISTA DI STUDI SULLA SOSTENIBILITA', FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(2 Suppl.), pages 61-78.
    4. Yara Nasr & Henri El Zakhem & Ameur El Amine Hamami & Makram El Bachawati & Rafik Belarbi, 2024. "Comprehensive Assessment of the Impact of Green Roofs and Walls on Building Energy Performance: A Scientific Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-52, October.
    5. Manso, Maria & Teotónio, Inês & Silva, Cristina Matos & Cruz, Carlos Oliveira, 2021. "Green roof and green wall benefits and costs: A review of the quantitative evidence," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    6. Cansu Iraz Seyrek Şık & Agata Woźniczka & Barbara Widera, 2022. "A Conceptual Framework for the Design of Energy-Efficient Vertical Green Façades," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-19, October.
    7. Balali, Amirhossein & Yunusa-Kaltungo, Akilu & Edwards, Rodger, 2023. "A systematic review of passive energy consumption optimisation strategy selection for buildings through multiple criteria decision-making techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    8. Margarita-Niki Assimakopoulos & Rosa Francesca De Masi & Filippo de Rossi & Dimitra Papadaki & Silvia Ruggiero, 2020. "Green Wall Design Approach Towards Energy Performance and Indoor Comfort Improvement: A Case Study in Athens," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-23, May.
    9. Fabiana Convertino & Evelia Schettini & Ileana Blanco & Carlo Bibbiani & Giuliano Vox, 2022. "Effect of Leaf Area Index on Green Facade Thermal Performance in Buildings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, March.
    10. Yun Gao & Ensiyeh Farrokhirad & Adrian Pitts, 2023. "The Impact of Orientation on Living Wall Façade Temperature: Manchester Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-24, July.
    11. Chi, Fang'ai & Xu, Ying & Wang, Xueru, 2022. "Transparent part design optimizations in buildings towards energy saving based on customized radiation sky dome model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    12. Uthpala Rathnayake & Denvid Lau & Cheuk Lun Chow, 2020. "Review on Energy and Fire Performance of Water Wall Systems as a Green Building Façade," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-27, October.
    13. Hussain H. Al-Kayiem & Kelly Koh & Tri W. B. Riyadi & Marwan Effendy, 2020. "A Comparative Review on Greenery Ecosystems and Their Impacts on Sustainability of Building Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-25, October.
    14. Ileana Blanco & Fabiana Convertino, 2023. "Thermal Performance of Green Façades: Research Trends Analysis Using a Science Mapping Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-23, June.
    15. Cavadini, Giovan Battista & Cook, Lauren M., 2021. "Green and cool roof choices integrated into rooftop solar energy modelling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 296(C).
    16. Patryk Antoszewski & Dariusz Świerk & Michał Krzyżaniak, 2020. "Statistical Review of Quality Parameters of Blue-Green Infrastructure Elements Important in Mitigating the Effect of the Urban Heat Island in the Temperate Climate (C) Zone," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-36, September.
    17. Puyi Wang & Yew Hoong Wong & Chou Yong Tan & Sheng Li & Wen Tong Chong, 2022. "Vertical Greening Systems: Technological Benefits, Progresses and Prospects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-22, October.
    18. Halawa, Edward & Ghaffarianhoseini, Amirhosein & Ghaffarianhoseini, Ali & Trombley, Jeremy & Hassan, Norhaslina & Baig, Mirza & Yusoff, Safiah Yusmah & Azzam Ismail, Muhammad, 2018. "A review on energy conscious designs of building façades in hot and humid climates: Lessons for (and from) Kuala Lumpur and Darwin," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2147-2161.
    19. Coma, Julià & Chàfer, Marta & Pérez, Gabriel & Cabeza, Luisa F., 2020. "How internal heat loads of buildings affect the effectiveness of vertical greenery systems? An experimental study," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 919-930.
    20. Peng, Lilliana L.H. & Jiang, Zhidian & Yang, Xiaoshan & Wang, Qingqing & He, Yunfei & Chen, Sophia Shuang, 2020. "Energy savings of block-scale facade greening for different urban forms," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:20:p:5090-:d:1497740. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.