Hydrological Analysis of Green Roofs Performance under a Mediterranean Climate: A Case Study in Lisbon, Portugal

Maria Luíza Santos (), Cristina Matos Silva, Filipa Ferreira and José Saldanha Matos
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Maria Luíza Santos: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture and Georesources, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, CERIS, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Cristina Matos Silva: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture and Georesources, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, CERIS, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Filipa Ferreira: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture and Georesources, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, CERIS, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
José Saldanha Matos: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture and Georesources, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, CERIS, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: In this paper, the hydrological performance of eight pilot green roofs (GR) installed in Lisbon, Portugal, under a Mediterranean climate is analyzed. The pilot units were installed at Instituto Superior Técnico campus of Lisbon University. The pilots present different plant species and different substrate types, with some of the units incorporating recycled construction and demolition waste (RCW). The green roofs pilots’ hydrologic performance was evaluated through the simulation of artificial precipitation events between March 2021 and July 2021. Considering the results obtained, it can be concluded that the inclusion of RCW in the substrate composition did not hinder the development of vegetation or the hydrological performance of GR. The results showed a rainfall water retention per event ranging from 37% to 100%, with an average rainfall retention of about 81%. The runoff delay ranged from 2 to 18 min, and the peak attenuation ranged from 30 to 100%. The results indicated that previous substrate moisture strongly influences the hydrological performance of GR. As the inclusion of RCW in the substrate composition promotes a more effective drainage of the substrate during dry conditions, it is considered that RCW may have positive impacts on GR’s hydrological performance.

Keywords: green roofs; hydrological performance; Mediterranean climate; recycled construction and demolition waste substrate; urban stormwater management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:2:p:1064-:d:1027178

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