Energy and Economic Performance of Plant-Shaded Building Façade in Hot Arid Climate

Mahmoud Haggag, Ahmed Hassan and Ghulam Qadir
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Mahmoud Haggag: Architectural Engineering Department, College of Engineering, UAE University, PO Box 15551, Al-Ain, UAE
Ahmed Hassan: Architectural Engineering Department, College of Engineering, UAE University, PO Box 15551, Al-Ain, UAE
Ghulam Qadir: Architectural Engineering Department, College of Engineering, UAE University, PO Box 15551, Al-Ain, UAE

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: The use of vegetated walls and intensive plantation around buildings has increased in popularity in hot and arid climates, such as those in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is due to its contribution towards reducing the heat gain and increasing the occupants’ comfort levels in spaces. This paper examines the introduction of plant-shaded walls as passive technique to reduce heat gain in indoor spaces as a strategy to lower cooling demand in hot arid climate of Al-Ain city. Experimental work was carried out to analyze the impact of using plantation for solar control of residential building façades in extreme summer. External and internal wall surface and ambient temperatures were measured for plant-shaded and bare walls. The study concluded that shading effect of the intensive plantation can reduce peak time indoor air temperature by 12 °C and reduce the internal heat gain by 2 kWh daily in the tested space. The economic analysis reveals a payback period of 10 years considering local energy tariff excluding environmental savings.

Keywords: energy efficiency; hot climate; plant-shaded wall; thermal performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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:9:y:2017:i:11:p:2026-:d:117766

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