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Substrate Depth, Vegetation and Irrigation Affect Green Roof Thermal Performance in a Mediterranean Type Climate

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  • Andrea Pianella

    (School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Blvd, Richmond 3070, Australia
    Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Group, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia)

  • Lu Aye

    (Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Group, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, Melbourne School of Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia)

  • Zhengdong Chen

    (CSIRO Land and Water, CSIRO, Clayton South Victoria 3169, Australia)

  • Nicholas S. G. Williams

    (School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, 500 Yarra Blvd, Richmond 3070, Australia)

Abstract

Green roofs are consistently being used to reduce some of the negative environmental impacts of cities. The increasing interest in extensive green roofs requires refined studies on their design and operation, and on the effects of their relevant parameters on green roof thermal performance. The effects of two design parameters, substrate thickness (ST) and conductivity of dry soil (CDS), and four operating parameters, leaf area index (LAI), leaf reflectivity (LR), stomatal resistance (SR), and moisture content (MC), were investigated using the green roof computer model developed by Sailor in 2008. The computer simulations showed that among the operating parameters, LAI has the largest effects on thermal performance while CDS is a more influential design parameter than ST. Experimental investigations of non-vegetated and sparsely vegetated green roofs in Melbourne were principally used to understand the effect of the substrate and enable better understanding of dominant heat transfer mechanisms involved. Investigated green roofs had three substrate thicknesses (100, 150 and 200 mm), and their performance was compared to a bare conventional roof. In contrast to the computer simulations, the experimental results for summer and winter showed the importance of MC and ST in reducing the substrate temperature and heat flux through the green roof.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Pianella & Lu Aye & Zhengdong Chen & Nicholas S. G. Williams, 2017. "Substrate Depth, Vegetation and Irrigation Affect Green Roof Thermal Performance in a Mediterranean Type Climate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:8:p:1451-:d:108548
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Vera, Sergio & Pinto, Camilo & Tabares-Velasco, Paulo Cesar & Bustamante, Waldo, 2018. "A critical review of heat and mass transfer in vegetative roof models used in building energy and urban enviroment simulation tools," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C), pages 752-764.
    3. Dominik Gößner & Milena Mohri & Justine Jasmin Krespach, 2021. "Evapotranspiration Measurements and Assessment of Driving Factors: A Comparison of Different Green Roof Systems during Summer in Germany," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Dean Schrieke & Nicholas S. G. Williams & Claire Farrell, 2023. "Response of Spontaneous Plant Communities to Sedum mexicanum Cover and Water Availability in Green Roof Microcosms," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-16, June.
    5. Fabiana Frota de Albuquerque Landi & Claudia Fabiani & Anna Laura Pisello, 2021. "Experimental Winter Monitoring of a Light-Weight Green Roof Assembly for Building Retrofit," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, April.
    6. Alkistis E. Kanteraki & Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos & Miltiadis Zamparas & Vasilis C. Kapsalis & Sofoklis S. Makridis & Giouli Mihalakakou, 2020. "Investigating Thermal Performance of Residential Buildings in Marmari Region, South Evia, Greece," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-22, February.
    7. 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.
    8. Brunetti, Giuseppe & Porti, Michele & Piro, Patrizia, 2018. "Multi-level numerical and statistical analysis of the hygrothermal behavior of a non-vegetated green roof in a mediterranean climate," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 204-219.

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