Energy Saving Effects of Green Roof in Exiting Buildings according to Different Insulation Levels

Abstract

Energy performance of building envelope components, including external walls, floors, roofs, windows and doors, is crutial for determining how much energy is required for heating and cooling in a building. Among various building technologies, a green roof system can be a good option for reducing heat gain and loss in new buildings as well as existing buildings for green remodeling. This paper evaluates the performance of green roof systems according to soil depth and Leaf Area Index (LAI) for existing buildings. It also attempts to quantify the energy saving effects on new and existing buildings with different insulation levels. Thermal performance of green roofs is mainly dependent on soil thickness and LAI. Installation of green roofs in deteriorated existing buildings can lead to improvements in roof insulation, due to the soil layer. An increase in soil depth leads to a decrease in heating load, regardless of conditions of vegetation on the green roof. Larger LAI values may reduce cooling loads in the cooling season. Installation of green roof in deteriorated existing buildings showed bigger energy saving effect in comparison to a case in new buildings. A simulation study showed that the installation of green roof systems in deteriorated existing buildings with low insulation levels, due to low thermal performance requirements when constructed, could improve the energy performance of the buildings similar or better to the peformance on new buildings with the most updated insulation standard. Thus, when remodeling a deteriorated building, green roofs could be a good option to meet the most recent energy requirements.