Abstract
Widespread overbuilding, the prevalence of asphalt surfaces on green areas, and the use of building materials with low heat dissipation abilities are among the main causes of Urban Heat Islands. Within urban areas, evapotranspiration and shade from plants can significantly reduce the UHI phenomenon, help in stormwater management, and reduce building energy consumption. The goal of this work is to analyze the hydraulics and energy performances of an experimental extensive green roof at the University of Calabria (Italy) in Mediterranean area. This study confirmed that green roofs significantly mitigate storm water runoff generation in terms of runoff volume reduction and peak attenuation, and improve the thermal performance of buildings and the internal comfort of indoor spaces.
Highlights
Green roofs have been widely investigated in many cities around the world as a tool to solve many problems in urban environments
Observations from the green roof installed at the University of Calabria allowed us to discuss the energy and water related performance of vegetated roofs within the specific climatic context of the Mediterranean region
The dataset obtained during this study is useful to contribute to a deeper understanding of mass and energy fluxes between the building envelope and the surrounding environment. This is expected to support sustainable construction in urban areas, where the intrinsic interaction between energy and water plays a major role in the strategies towards sustainability and improved quality of life in cities
Summary
Green roofs have been widely investigated in many cities around the world as a tool to solve many problems in urban environments. They can reduce the energy demands of air-conditioned spaces, and greenhouse gas emissions, through direct shading of the roof, evapotranspiration, and improved insulation values [1,2,3,4]. Integrated water and energy management in the urban context is one major route towards environmental sustainability and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions These objectives are linked to the life cycle of infrastructures for the integrated management of these resources [10,11]. The understanding of mass (water) and energy fluxes between the building envelope and the surrounding environment is a topical issue whenever sustainability and comfortable living conditions are addressed for urban areas [12]
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