The Role of the Extensive Green Roofs on Decreasing Building Energy Consumption in the Mediterranean Climate

Mario Maiolo, Behrouz Pirouz, Roberto Bruno, Stefania Anna Palermo, Natale Arcuri and Patrizia Piro
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Mario Maiolo: Department of Environment Engineering and the Territory and Chemical Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Behrouz Pirouz: Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Roberto Bruno: Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Stefania Anna Palermo: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Natale Arcuri: Department of Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Patrizia Piro: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy

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

Abstract: Buildings portion in global energy consumption is 40%, and in the building envelope, the roof is a crucial point for improving indoor temperature, especially in the last and second last floors. Studies show that green roofs can be applied to moderate roof temperature and affect the indoor temperature in summer and winter. However, the performance of green roofs depends on several parameters such as climate, irrigation, layer materials, and thickness. In this context, the present research deals with a comprehensive experimental analysis of different thermal impacts of green roofs in summer and winter in a Mediterranean climate. Measurements carried out in one year in three different types of green roofs with different thicknesses, layers, and with and without the insulation layer. The analysis determined the possible period that indoor cooling or heating might be required with and without green roofs and demonstrated the positive impact of green roofs in moderating the roof temperature and temperature fluctuations, which in summer was remarkable. In conclusion, since in the Mediterranean climate, the thermal differences between green roofs and conventional roofs in summer are much higher than winter, it seems that the green roof without an insulation layer would show better performance.

Keywords: green roof; sustainability; heat flux; building energy consumption; roof temperature (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (25)

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