Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Smart Energy Control Systems for Sustainable Buildings pp 37–59Cite as

Assessment of the Green Roofs Thermal Dynamic Behavior for Increasing the Building Energy Efficiencies

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies ((SIST,volume 67))

Abstract

The continuous city growth leads to the intensification of the Urban Heat Island effect (UHI) which involves several consequences for the in-habitant comfort. Countermeasures such as green roofs can mitigate the urban microclimate reducing the roof surface temperature and hence the surrounding air temperature. As most of the existing Italy building stock was built without or with poor thermal insulation, they need of interventions of energy retrofit. In particular, roofs are the component of the building envelope that are mainly engaged of both solar gains and thermal fluxes. Therefore, any interventions refurbishment should include the roof surface. This paper focuses on the analyses of the energy performance and the dynamic thermal behavior of a green roof implemented in an existing house-holiday situated in the south part of Sicily. Moreover, other two refurbishment scenarios that foresee the increase of the roof thermal insulation were analysed. Dynamic simulations have proven that the green roof reduce the energy needs, about 90% in the cooling period and 30% in the heating period; delays and attenuates the outdoor heat wave in comparison with traditional roofs, as well as diminishes the average daily temperature fluctuations. The reduction of the vegetated temperature area results about 10.0 °C lower than the one of a bare roof area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   139.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   179.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

Ce,g :

Latent heat flux bulk transfer coefficient at ground layer

Cf :

Bulk heat transfer coefficient

Ch,g :

Sensible heat flux bulk transfer coefficient at ground layer

Cp,a :

Specific heat (J kg−1 K−1)

DF:

Decrement factor (−)

Ff :

Net heat flux to foliage layer (W m−2)

Fg :

Net heat flux to ground surface (W m−2)

hc :

Convective heat transfer coefficient (W m−2 K)

hr :

Linear radiative heat transfer coefficient (W m−2 K)

Hf :

Foliage sensible heat flux (W m−2)

Hg :

Ground sensible heat flux (W m−2)

I ↓ :

Total incoming short wave radiation (W m−2)

I ↓ir :

Total incoming long wave radiation (W m−2)

lf :

Latent heat of vaporization at foliage temperature (J kg−1)

lg :

Latent heat of vaporization at ground temperature (J kg−1)

Lf :

Foliage latent heat flux (W m−2)

Lg :

Ground latent heat flux (W m−2)

LAI:

Leaf area index (m m−2)

PMV:

Predicted mean vote

PPD:

Predicted percentage of dissatisfied

qaf :

Mixing ratio for air

qf,sat :

Saturation mixing ratio at foliage temperature

qg,sat :

Saturation mixing ratio at ground temperature

r‘‘ :

Surface wetness factor

r:

Short wave reflectance (−)

rf :

Short wave reflectance of the foliage (−)

rg :

Short wave reflectance of the soil surface (−)

s:

Thickness (m)

S:

Total envelope surface area (m2)

Sr :

Roof surface (m2)

Su :

Net floor area (m2)

SM:

Superficial mass (kg m−2)

t:

Transmissivity (−)

Taf :

Air temperature with in the canopy (°C)

Tdb :

Dry bulb air temperature

Tf :

Leaf temperature (°C)

Tg :

Ground surface temperature (°C)

Ti :

Indoor temperature (°C)

TMRT :

Mean radiant temperature (°C)

To :

Outdoor air temperature (°C)

Top :

Opertive temperature (°C)

Top,av :

Average opertive temperature (°C)

Tsi :

Inner surface temperature (°C)

Tso :

Outdoor surface temperature (°C)

TL:

Time-lag (h)

U:

Thermal transmittance (Wm−2 K−1)

V:

Heated gross-volume (m3)

Waf :

Wind speed with in the canopy (m/s)

z:

Depth (m)

αf :

Short wave absorptance of canopy (−)

αg :

Short wave absorptance of the ground surface (−)

εf :

Emissivity of canopy (−)

εg :

Emissivity of the ground surface (−)

ε1 :

Εf + εg − εf·εg

g:

Radiant fraction

λ:

Thermal conductivity (W m−2 K−1)

ρaf :

Density of air at foliage temperature (kg m−3)

ρag :

Density of air at ground surface temperature (kg m−3)

ρg :

Density of growing medium (kg m−3)

ρ:

Density (kg m−3)

Stefan-Boltzmann constant (W m−2 K−4)

f:

Fractional vegetation coverage (−)

τ:

Time (s)

References

  1. Theodosiou, T.G.: Summer period analysis of the performance of a planted roof as cooling passive technique. Energy Build. 35(9), 909–917 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. D‘Orazio, M., Di Perna, C., Di Giuseppe, E.: The effects of roof covering on the thermal performance of highly insulated roofs in Mediterranean climates. Energy Build. 42, 1619–1627 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Gagliano, A., Patania, F., Nocera, F., Ferlito, A., Galesi, A.: Thermal performance of venti-lated roofs during summer period. Energy Build. 49, 611–618 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. GhaffarianHoseini, A., Dahlan, N., Berardi, U., Makaremi, N.: Sustainable energy performances of green buildings: A review of current theories, implementations and challenges. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 25, 1–17 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Coutts, A., Daly, E., Beringer, J., Tapper, N.J.: Assessing practical measures to reduce-urban heat: Green and cool roofs. Build. Environ. 70, 266–276 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Alexandri, E., Jones, P.: Temperature decreases in an urban canyon due to greenwalls and green roofs in diverse climates. Build. Environ. 43(4), 480–493 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Castleton, H.F., Stovin, V., Beck, S.B.M., Davison, J.B.: Green roofs; building energy savings and potential for retrofit. Energy Build. 42, 1582–1591 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mentens, J., Raes, D., Hermy, M.: Green roof as a tool for solving the rainwater runoff problem in the urbanized 21st century? Landscape Urban Plann. 77, 217–226 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fioretti, R., Palla, A., Lanza, L.G., Principi, P.: Green roof energy and water related performance in the Mediterranean climate. Build. Environ. 45, 1890–1904 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Berndtsson, J.C., et al.: Runoff water quality from intensive and extensive vegetated roofs. Ecol. Eng. 35(3), 369–380 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Yang, J., Yu, Q., Gong, P.: Quantifying air pollution removal by green roofs in Chicago. Atmos. Environ. 42(31), 7266–7273 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Banting, D., et al.: Report on environmental benefits and costs of green roof technologies for the city of Toronto (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Susca, T., Gaffin, S.R., Dell‘Osso, G.R.: Positive effects of vegetation: Urban heat island and green roofs. Environ. Pollut. 159, 2119–2126 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Parizotto, S., Lamberts, R.: Investigations of green roof thermal performance intemperature climate: A case study of an experimental building in Florianopolis city, Southern Brazil. Energy Build. 43, 1712–1722 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Del Barrio, E.P.: Analysis of the green roofs cooling potential in buildings. Energy Build. 27, 179–193 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Niachou, K., Papakonstantinou, K., Santamouris, A., Tsagroussoulis, A., Mihalakakou, G.: Analysis of the green roof thermal properties and investigations of its energy performance. Energy Build. 33, 719–729 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Lui, K., Minor, J.: Performance evaluation of an extensive green roof. Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities, pp. 1–11. Washington DC (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kumar, R., Kaushik, S.C.: Performance evaluation of green roof and shading for thermal protection of buildings. Build. Environ. 40(11), 1505–1511 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Costanzo, V., Evola, G., Gagliano, A., Marletta, L., Nocera, F.: Study on the application of cool paintings for the passive cooling of existing buildings in mediterranean climates. Adv. Mech. Eng. (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Teemusk, A., Mander, U.: Green roof potential to reduce temperatures fluctuations of a roof membrane: A case study from Estonia. Build. Environ. 44(3), 643–650 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Takakura, T., Kitade, S., Goto, E.: Cooling effect of greenery cover on over a building. Energy Build. 31(1), 1–6 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. DesignBuilder—Energy Simulation Software, Version 3. http://designbuilder.co.uk

  23. La Roche, P., Berardi, U.: Comfort and energy savings with active green roofs. Energy Build. 82, 492–504 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Capelli, M., Cianfrini, C., Corcicone, M.: Effect of vegetation roof on indoor temperatures. Heat Environ. 16(2), 85–90 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Karachaliou, P., Santamouris, M.: Experimental and theoretical analysis of the thermal behavior and the energy performance of an intensive green roof system installed on an office building in Athens. In: Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Countermeasures to Urban Heat Island Venice (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Gagliano, A., Detommaso, M., Nocera, F., Patania, F., Aneli, S.: The retrofit of existing buildings through the exploitation of the green roofs–a simulation study. Energy Procedia 62, 52–61 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. http://www.zinco-greenroof.com/EN/downloads/pdfs/ZinCo_Intensive_Green_Roofs.pdf

  28. Farouki, O.T.: Thermal properties of soils. U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Monograph 81-1 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Sailor, D.J., Hutchinson, D., Bokovoy, L.: Thermal property measurements for ecoroof soils common in the western U.S. Energy Build. 40, 1246–1251 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Capozzoli, A., Gorrino, A., Corrado, V.: Thermal characterization of green roofs through dynamic simulation. In: Proceedings of BS2013 13th Conference of International Building Performance Simulation Association, Chambéry (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Feng, C., Meng, Q., Zhang, Y.: Theoretical and experimental analysis of the energy balance of extensive green roofs. Energy Build. 42(6), 959–965 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Wong, N.: Investigation of thermal benefits of rooftop garden in the tropical environment. Build. Environ. 38(2), 261270 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Lazzarin, R.M., Castellotti, F., Busato, F.: Experimental measurements and numerical modeling of a green roof. Energy Build. 37(12), 1260–1267 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Energy Plus.: Engineering Reference. The reference to energy plus calculation, Green Roof Model (EcoRoof). University of Illinois and University of California, pp. 123–132 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Frankenstein, S., Koenig, G.: Fast all-season soil strength (FASST), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Colde Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (ERDC/CRREL), Special Report SR-04-01. Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  36. Santamouris, M., Pavlou, C., Doukas, P., Mihalakakou, G., Synnefa A., Hatzibiros, A.: Investigating and analysing the energy and environmental performance of an experimental green roof system installed in a nursery school building in Athens, Greece. Energy. 32, 1781–1788 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Li, D., Bou-Zeid, E ., Oppenheimer, M.: The effectiveness of cool and green roofs as urban heat island mitigation strategies. Environ. Res. Lett. 9 (2014). doi:10.1088/1748-9326/9/5/055002

  38. Gagliano, A., Patania, F., Nocera, F., Signorello, C.: Assessment of the dynamic thermal performance of a massive building. Energy Build. 72, 361–370 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. ASHRAE Standard 55—thermal environmental conditions for human occupancy, ASHRAE Inc., (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Tina, G.M., Gagliano, A., Nocera, F., Patania, F.: Photovoltaic glazing: Analysis of thermal behavior and indoor comfort. Energy Procedia 42, 367–376 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. La Roche, P.: Low cost green roofs for cooling: experimental series in a hot anddry climate. In: Passive Low Energy Conference, PLEA 2009, Quebec, Canada (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Zinzi, M., Agnoli, S.: Cool and green roofs. An energy and comfort comparison between passive cooling and mitigation urban heat island techniques for residential buildings in the Mediterranean region. Energy Build. 55, 66–76 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. http://smap.cbe.berkeley.edu/comforttool/

  44. Eumorfopoulou, E., Aravantinos, D.: The contribution of a planted roof to the thermal protection of building in Greece. Energy Build. 27, 29–36 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. D‘Orazio, M., Di Perna, C., Di Giuseppe, E.: Green roof yearly performance: A case study in a highly insulated building under temperate climate. Energy Build. 55, 439–451 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electric, Electronics and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, via A. Doria 6, Catania, 95125, Italy

    Antonio Gagliano, Maurizio Detommaso & Francesco Nocera

Authors
  1. Antonio Gagliano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maurizio Detommaso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Francesco Nocera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonio Gagliano .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiff School of Art & Design, The Ecological Built Environment group (EBERE), Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom

    John Littlewood

  2. Bartlett School Env, Energy & Resou, University College London Bartlett School Env, Energy & Resou, London, United Kingdom

    Catalina Spataru

  3. KES International, Shoreham-by-Sea, United Kingdom

    Robert J. Howlett

  4. School of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

    Lakhmi C. Jain

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Gagliano, A., Detommaso, M., Nocera, F. (2017). Assessment of the Green Roofs Thermal Dynamic Behavior for Increasing the Building Energy Efficiencies. In: Littlewood, J., Spataru, C., Howlett, R., Jain, L. (eds) Smart Energy Control Systems for Sustainable Buildings. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 67. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52076-6_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52076-6_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-52074-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-52076-6

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation