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Experimental Analysis of the Effect of Geometry and Façade Materials on Urban District’s Equivalent Albedo

Author

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  • Elena Morini

    (Engineering Department, Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and Environment “Mauro Felli” (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Beatrice Castellani

    (Engineering Department, Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and Environment “Mauro Felli” (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Andrea Presciutti

    (Engineering Department, Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and Environment “Mauro Felli” (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Elisabetta Anderini

    (Engineering Department, Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and Environment “Mauro Felli” (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Mirko Filipponi

    (Engineering Department, Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and Environment “Mauro Felli” (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Andrea Nicolini

    (Engineering Department, Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and Environment “Mauro Felli” (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

  • Federico Rossi

    (Engineering Department, Interuniversity Research Centre on Pollution and Environment “Mauro Felli” (CIRIAF), University of Perugia, Via G. Duranti 67, 06125 Perugia, Italy)

Abstract

Urban Heat Island (UHI) is influenced by urban form, geometry, and the properties of surfaces. Retroreflective (RR) materials have been proposed as a countermeasure to UHI, thanks to their optical property of reflecting most of the incident solar energy back towards the same direction. In this paper, the effect of RR materials on urban districts was investigated. They were applied on building façades of urban districts with different urban forms and orientations. To this aim, an experimental model resembling urban districts with different geometries was built and RR materials on vertical surfaces were tested and compared to conventional construction materials with similar global reflectance. The trend of the instantaneous albedo was monitored during the day and a new parameter called “equivalent albedo” was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the RR materials. The comparative analysis shows that the RR façades lead to an increase of the equivalent albedo for all of the investigated urban patterns. For a block pattern, the equivalent albedo increase is equal to 3%, while for canyon patterns it is equal to 7%. Results of energy evaluations show that the energy savings obtainable with the use of RR materials is comparable to the values of anthropogenic heat emissions in residential areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Morini & Beatrice Castellani & Andrea Presciutti & Elisabetta Anderini & Mirko Filipponi & Andrea Nicolini & Federico Rossi, 2017. "Experimental Analysis of the Effect of Geometry and Façade Materials on Urban District’s Equivalent Albedo," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-12, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:7:p:1245-:d:104872
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yaping Chen & Bohong Zheng & Yinze Hu, 2020. "Mapping Local Climate Zones Using ArcGIS-Based Method and Exploring Land Surface Temperature Characteristics in Chenzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Fernandes, Marco S. & Rodrigues, Eugénio & Gaspar, Adélio Rodrigues & Costa, José J. & Gomes, Álvaro, 2019. "The impact of thermal transmittance variation on building design in the Mediterranean region," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 581-597.
    3. Alireza Karimi & Pir Mohammad & Antonio García-Martínez & David Moreno-Rangel & Darya Gachkar & Sadaf Gachkar, 2023. "New developments and future challenges in reducing and controlling heat island effect in urban areas," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(10), pages 10485-10531, October.
    4. Jeong-Hee Eum & Kwon Kim & Eung-Ho Jung & Paikho Rho, 2018. "Evaluation and Utilization of Thermal Environment Associated with Policy: A Case Study of Daegu Metropolitan City in South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, April.

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