Green walls: a sustainable approach to climate change, a case study of London

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe aim of the research is to evaluate and examine the thermal performance of vegetation on building façades and whether they can be considered as a possible method for mitigating the climate change impact in London. The first objective is to quantify the cooling potential of green walls during summer and understand how it modifies the microclimate in London. The second objective aims to evaluate its perceived benefits and provide insight into its occupant's thermal comfort levels. iButtons were installed during summer on living wall systems (LWS) of three buildings located in London. The study quantifies and demonstrates that a vegetated façade can reduce the exterior surface temperature by up to 12°C. The results of the case studies demonstrate the LWS can reduce the ambient air temperature between 0.5°C and 4.1°C compared to a distance of 2 m away. Wind speed can be decreased by up to 0.7 m s−1 in front of a green façade.