IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v12y2023i12p2105-d1287812.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Simulation-Based Study on the Effect of Green Roofs on Summer Energy Performance in Melbourne

Author

Listed:
  • Elmira Jamei

    (College of Sport, Health, and Engineering, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia
    Institute of Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia)

  • Gokul Thirunavukkarasu

    (Siemens-Swinburne Energy Transition Hub, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Majed Abuseif

    (School of Law and Society, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast, QLD 4556, Australia
    Green Infrastructure Research Labs (GIRLS), Cities Research Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4215, Australia)

  • Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian

    (Siemens-Swinburne Energy Transition Hub, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Saad Mekhilef

    (Siemens-Swinburne Energy Transition Hub, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Alex Stojcevski

    (Siemens-Swinburne Energy Transition Hub, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia)

  • Hing-Wah Chau

    (College of Sport, Health, and Engineering, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia
    Institute of Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia)

Abstract

Green roofs are increasingly recognised as a crucial urban solution, addressing climate change, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable architecture in densely populated areas. In this manuscript, the research study delves into the influence of green roofs on energy consumption, focusing on the Treasury Place building in Melbourne, Australia. The utilisation of DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus simulations was explored. Various green roof parameters such as the Leaf Area Index (LAI), plant height, soil moisture, and tree coverage were optimised and compared against base case scenarios. The key findings indicate an optimal LAI of 1.08 for maximum energy savings, with diminishing returns beyond an LAI of 2.5. The soil moisture content was most effective, around 50%, while a plant height of approximately 0.33 m optimised energy reduction. The introduction of 50% canopy tree coverage provided temperature regulation, but increased soil moisture due to trees and their influence on wind flow had an adverse energy impact. These results emphasise the necessity for precise green roof representation and parameter optimisation for maximum energy efficiency. This research offers essential insights for those in urban planning and building design, endorsing green roofs as a pivotal solution for sustainable urban environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Elmira Jamei & Gokul Thirunavukkarasu & Majed Abuseif & Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian & Saad Mekhilef & Alex Stojcevski & Hing-Wah Chau, 2023. "Simulation-Based Study on the Effect of Green Roofs on Summer Energy Performance in Melbourne," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:12:p:2105-:d:1287812
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/12/2105/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/12/12/2105/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Aude Lemonsu & Raphaëlle Kounkou-Arnaud & Julien Desplat & Jean-Luc Salagnac & Valéry Masson, 2013. "Evolution of the Parisian urban climate under a global changing climate," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 116(3), pages 679-692, February.
    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. Valéry Masson & Colette Marchadier & Luc Adolphe & Rahim Aguejdad & P. Avner & Marc Bonhomme & Geneviève Bretagne & X. Briottet & Bruno Bueno & Cécile de Munck & O. Doukari & Stéphane Hallegatte & Jul, 2014. "Adapting cities to climate change: A systemic modelling approach," Post-Print hal-01136215, HAL.
    2. Guo, Xiaofeng & Hendel, Martin, 2018. "Urban water networks as an alternative source for district heating and emergency heat-wave cooling," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 79-87.
    3. Kohler, M. & Blond, N. & Clappier, A., 2016. "A city scale degree-day method to assess building space heating energy demands in Strasbourg Eurometropolis (France)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 40-54.
    4. Yingjiu Bai & Ikuyo Kaneko & Hikaru Kobayashi & Kazuo Kurihara & Izuru Takayabu & Hidetaka Sasaki & Akihiko Murata, 2014. "A Geographic Information System (GIS)-based approach to adaptation to regional climate change: a case study of Okutama-machi, Tokyo, Japan," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 19(5), pages 589-614, June.
    5. Ye, Bin & Jiang, Jingjing & Liu, Junguo & Zheng, Yi & Zhou, Nan, 2021. "Research on quantitative assessment of climate change risk at an urban scale: Review of recent progress and outlook of future direction," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(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:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:12:p:2105-:d:1287812. 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.