Energy and Environmental Comparison between a Concrete Wall with and without a Living Green Wall: A Case Study in Mexicali, Mexico

Angeles Campos-Osorio, Néstor Santillán-Soto, O. Rafael García-Cueto, Alejandro A. Lambert-Arista and Gonzalo Bojórquez-Morales
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Angeles Campos-Osorio: Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali 21280, Mexico
Néstor Santillán-Soto: Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali 21280, Mexico
O. Rafael García-Cueto: Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali 21280, Mexico
Alejandro A. Lambert-Arista: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali 21280, Mexico
Gonzalo Bojórquez-Morales: Facultad de Arquitectura y Diseño, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mexicali 21280, Mexico

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 13, 1-10

Abstract: In cities with dry arid climate, air conditioning (AC) equipment is necessary for thermal comfort in indoor spaces. The use of this equipment generates an increase in electricity consumption and an increment in CO? emissions to the environment; thus, one way to mitigate these negative effects is the Living Green Wall (LGW). The objective of this research is to assess the decrease in thermal gain, energy benefits, and estimate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are not emitted by the use of the LGW. Measurements of heat flux, solar radiation, and temperatures were made on a concrete wall and another with an LGW in a west-facing building in the city of Mexicali, Mexico. The results indicate that it is possible to reduce 49% of the heat flow through the wall, which reduces the thermal load 102,212 Btu/h to the indoor space, implying the additional work of 8.53 tons of AC. This excess equals 985.6 kWh of electrical energy and generates a total of 697 kg of CO? emissions during the warm season. It is concluded that shading with an LWG becomes a very influential element to mitigate the heat fluxes towards the indoor spaces.

Keywords: temperature; greenhouse gas emissions; heat fluxes; living green wall (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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