THERMAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF GREEN LIVING WALLS IN COMPOSITE CLIMATE

Abstract

Purpose of the study: Due to high solar radiation and extreme heat gain in composite climates, the envelope or the façade of the building becomes an essential part to modulate the heat transfer and temperature in the indoor environment. A passive sustainable approach to tackle heat gain is by adopting green living facades as the exterior skin. The objective of this research is to identify the potential of green living walls in modulating temperature and relative humidity in the composite climate of India.
 Methodology: This research is based on data collection in the form of a Case Study. The paper evaluates the difference of variation in temperature and relative humidity of two façade samples of the same building, one with a “green living facade” and one without it.
 Main Findings: The research aimed to justify that a green living facade may act as a passive strategy for composite climates. The result demonstrated that there is a significant temperature reduction between the ambient air temperature and indoor room temperature. The result also showed a notable change between ambient air temperature and the gap between the green living façade and the surface of the wall.
 Implications: Significant drop in indoor ambient temperature in composite climate may save energy for cooling or heating demands.
 Application of this study: This is a pilot study in order to carry out the main study for a similar application in order to categorize this as a passive sustainable façade strategy.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: The study is one of its kind attempt to investigate the impact of vertical green walls on thermal comfort in the composite climate of India.