Outdoor Microclimate Research Articles

Urban block configuration and the impact on energy consumption: A case study of sinuous morphology

Building morphology and urban block configuration are influential urban design elements that control and optimize the outdoor and indoor thermal performance. In hot climate areas, cooling load is the major contribution to the total energy consumption, so it is essential to adopt design tools to enhance the building performance and reduce energy consumption and emissions. Previous studies proved the impact of urban block morphology on indoor energy consumption. However, the performance of buildings in Sinuous Configuration (SC) within the urban block has not been investigated in previous literature. This study aims to find the impact of SC of urban block configuration on outdoor microclimate parameters and indoor energy consumption. The UAE climate hot conditions were adopted to explore the SC of the urban block on outdoor thermal performance and indoor energy consumption using two simulation programs ENVI-MET and IES-VE. The outdoor thermal performance in this study is expressed by; 1) air temperature, 2) wind velocity, and 3) relative humidity at the height of the pedestrian level, 1.4 m from the ground. The results show that the SC where the buildings are arranged alternatively within the urban block, reduced the air temperature by 1.9 °C compared to the base case of grid arrangement. This result was reflected positively on energy consumption by reducing the conduction and solar gains, consequently, the cooling load decreased by 4.9% compared to the base case. Furthermore, the SC has a clear impact on wind speed and behavior, as wind speed reduced up to 68%, but the airflow and distribution enhanced within the urban block canyons and alleys around the buildings. This study contributes to urban planning policies and regulations by providing an optimized urban block configuration for hot climate areas. However, the impact of SC on outdoor thermal comfort in hot and humid areas can be recommended for further studies.

Impact of post-socialist vertical extensions of buildings on outdoor microclimate in collective housing areas: A study of Niš, Serbia

Extensive transformations of large housing estates in postsocialist cities have been the subject of many studies. However, the effects of transformations resulting from urban densification, upon local microclimate, have not been fully determined. This paper addresses this issue by investigating the implications that vertical extension of residential buildings had on microclimatic parameters of thermal comfort (air temperature, mean radiant temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, solar radiation) in three large housing estates in the city of Niš, Serbia. By using ENVI-met software, outdoor microclimate is simulated in two scenarios: (1) original urban setting and (2) current urban setting, after the upgrade of existing buildings with additional floors. For the scenario with upgraded buildings, results indicate a small decrease in daytime air temperature, and small increases in mean radiant temperature and nocturnal air temperature. The effects on air temperature, relative humidity and solar radiation are more visible when upgrading low-rise structures, while the upgrade of high-rise buildings mostly affects wind speed. Research identifies tools and strategies of urban design that help in adapting inherited urban settings to temperature increase, such as positioning vertical extensions to exploit the effects of shading, conceptualizing open space in regard to building form, wind speed and solar radiation, and capitalizing on the cooling potential of trees.

Quantification of Outdoor Thermal Comfort Levels under Sea Breeze in the Historical City Fabric: The Case of Algiers Casbah

Thermal comfort in cities is an influential factor for citizens’ wellbeing and life quality. Urban microclimate studies have gained popularity following increasing urbanization trends and global climate change in recent years. Urban fabric and morphology in traditional cities represent a unique pattern both spatially and climatically. However, few studies have investigated traditional cities’ urban thermal comfort conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the thermal comfort in different subspaces of Algiers Casbah’s historic urban fabric, which falls in the hot Mediterranean climate (Csa). This research evaluated the human thermal sensation by applying the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) index. The methodology used was a mixed approach, including field measurements, calculations, and a survey questionnaire. The results indicate the presence of a high-stress level during the measurement periods, and notable differences between the subspaces in January (ΔPETMax.Jan = 3.7 °C) and August (ΔPETMax.Aug = 2.2 °C). The highest discomfort was recorded in spaces with collapsed buildings, especially during the hot hours of the day. The findings also highlight a strong impact of the sky view factor on the mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) and the physiological equivalent temperature (PET). The study discusses recommendations and ways to improve the design of outdoor spaces and relieve heat stress in the streets of traditional cities. Finally, this work helps urban managers and heritage conservators in urban rehabilitation policies concerning outdoor microclimate improvement.

Dynamic effects of frequent step changes in outdoor microclimate environments on thermal sensation and dissatisfaction of pedestrian during summer

• Subjects’ dynamic thermal responses to frequent microclimatic step changes are investigated. • Comparison between surveyed dynamic thermal sensation and predicted sensation is made. • Equivalent UTCI* based on SWI and frequent step change effectiveness is proposed. • Applicability of UTCI* in evaluating thermal sensations under frequent step changes is evaluated. • Impacts of frequent microclimatic step changes on thermal dissatisfaction in summer are revealed. Humans engaging in outside activities are more likely to be exposed to frequent spatiotemporal step changes in outdoor thermal conditions, as opposed to constant thermal conditions staying indoors. Understanding pedestrians’ thermal reactions to such dynamic thermal settings is helpful for enhancing outdoor thermal comfort by providing spatiotemporal variations in thermal conditions. In this study, 48 subjects were tested about their thermal perceptions while being exposed alternately to direct sunlight and shade at different defined frequencies, in a series of 45 min experiment period. The experiments were designed to create step changes in microclimate environments. The study was carried out from May to July in a university campus in Hong Kong with subtropical weather conditions. Results show that subjective thermal perceptions varied with alternating exposure to sunlight and shade at different frequencies. UTCI was modified to an equivalent UTCI* for evaluating thermal environments with frequent step changes by taking into account impacts of mixed changes in sun and wind conditions, alternating frequency and expectation on thermal perceptions. With a higher alternating frequency, there was reduced thermal dissatisfaction with hot summer days and a lower comfort requirement for shade, as well as the upper limit of acceptable UTCI* approaching 43.7 °C.

The Influence of Greenery and Landscape Design on Solar Radiation and UHI Mitigation: A Case Study of a Boulevard in a Hot Climate

Greenery is one of the most influential factors in reducing the outdoor air temperature and enhancing the microclimate in hot areas. Previous studies focused on studying Urban Heat Islands (UHI) on a specific level; this research investigates the impact of greenery on different levels and three types of UHI, pedestrian, canopy, and boundary, to provide a holistic image of greenery impact on the atmosphere. Further, whereas vegetation impact has been addressed in previous studies, no valuable study has been found that investigates the impact of vegetation within the local climate conditions of the UAE. In this research, different types of greenery will be investigated to find their impact on outdoor microclimate parameters and the UHI within the hot climate conditions of the UAE. The case study of this research is a boulevard located in Dubai; the International Media Protection Zone’s main boulevard was selected to simulate different scenarios based on vegetation type and Leaf Area Density (LAD) using ENVI-met. The results showed that 12 m trees and the cylindrical tree are the most effective vegetation in reducing the air temperature; the variation between these scenarios and the existing case reaches 0.70 °C and 0.66 °C, respectively. The 10 m trees also have an influencing impact on reducing the air temperature by 0.50 °C. The same vegetation types showed a positive performance in absorbing shortwave radiation. The reduction in the reflected wave compared to the reference case was 36.07 W/m2 and 31.45 W/m2 for the 12 m and 10 m trees, respectively. Furthermore, the reduction in air temperature of a proposed scenario can reach 2.41 °C, 1.12 °C, and 1.08 °C for the investigated UHI levels. The results of this study will provide a canyon greenery prototype, with optimized performance in hot, humid climate areas.

Historical vegetation for microclimate amelioration: a case study for The Netherlands

Current solutions for climate amelioration require excessive amounts of energy, such as air conditioners and patio heaters. Yet, historical energy-passive climate-responsive design solutions exist that have a potential for outdoor microclimate control. Regarding these solutions, there was no overview of historical vegetation for microclimate amelioration in oceanic climate zones. We therefore explored historical vegetation types for microclimate amelioration in the Netherlands, for the example of oceanic climate zones. We identified six vegetation types: espaliered trees, tree lanes, berceaux, shelterbelts, green walls and umbrella trees. For each type we described their historical microclimatic function(s) and discussed their quantitative microclimatic effects based on available literature. Whilst tree lanes and green walls are currently applied to ameliorate urban microclimate, this seemed not to be the case for umbrella trees, espaliered trees, shelterbelts and berceaux. We therefore recommend urban designers to also consider these other historical vegetation types for passive outdoor microclimate amelioration.

Building Envelope and the Outdoor Microclimate Variable of Vernacular Houses: Analysis on the Environmental Elements in Tropical Coastal and Mountain Areas of Indonesia

Temperature and humidity are essential factors in analyzing a building’s thermal performance. This research presents the differences in field measurements of vernacular houses in coastal and mountain areas in Indonesia. Field measurements were taken for five consecutive days in four vernacular houses. The variables were measured at the beginning and at the peak of the rainy season. Analysis included a combination of graphic and descriptive methods. The research results show that the location difference between coast and mountain results in a relatively high difference in temperature (43.6%). The outdoor temperature in the mountain area is lower than that of the coastal area. The outdoor humidity of the mountain area is 0.69% higher than that of the coastal area. In the tropical coastal area, the outdoor temperature of the exposed-brick house is 0.94% lower than that of the coastal wooden house. The outdoor air humidity of the brick house is 0.89% higher than that of the coastal wooden house. In the tropical mountain area, the outdoor temperature of the exposed-stone house is 2.47% lower than that of the wooden house. The outdoor air humidity of the stone house is 0.4% lower than that of the wooden house. The outdoor conditions affect the indoor conditions of the respective houses. These microclimatic differences are influenced by micro-environmental factors, such as the density of surrounding buildings, amount of vegetation, and shading. The research shows that height difference is the most dominant factor influencing outdoor microclimate. Regional microclimate becomes the basis for determining the most suitable envelope materials in different areas. The innovative contribution of the work is, among other benefits, the identification of factors that influence the wellbeing of the buildings’ users in the researched geographical area and the analysis of the interaction of the external and internal environment of buildings. From the above facts, it follows that the results of this work can contribute to the development of prediction models to determine the type of cover, material, shape, and load-bearing elements needed to create comfortable and energy-efficient buildings.

Modelling the effect of BIPV window in the built environment: Uncertainty and sensitivity

BIPV (building-integrated photovoltaic) window has been proven as a promising technology to increase renewable energy and reduce environmental effects of the building. The effect of BIPV window in the built environment could change significantly with the window configuration, building materials, and urban landscape, which have a large variability within cities. In this study, we adopted a newly developed building energy model coupled with a single-layer urban canopy model (BEM-SLUCM) to characterize the uncertainties of BIPV window effect at the neighbourhood scale in a hot desert climate city, Phoenix, USA. Using an advanced Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm, extensive simulations were conducted to quantify the sensitivity of extreme outdoor microclimate, building cooling load and renewable energy generation to various input parameters. Results show that the canyon aspect ratio, window coverage, and power generation efficiency are pivotal to maximize the electricity generation by BIPV window. Canyon air temperature and building cooling load are highly sensitive to momentum roughness length above canyon, thickness of building envelope, air conditioning setpoint temperature, and canyon aspect ratio. This indicates a strong dynamic interaction between building's indoor space and the surrounding canyon environment. In contrast, thermal and optical properties of BIPV window have negligible effects on the urban thermal environment. Findings in this study reveal key mechanisms that regulate the urban microclimate and building energy consumption, provide guidance for BIPV applications in the built environment, and shed new lights on the sustainable design of urban neighbourhoods.

Impact of BIPV windows on building energy consumption in street canyons: Model development and validation

Photovoltaic components have been increasingly integrated into the façades of buildings as a means to enhance their energy efficiency in recent years, yet the impact of using building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) windows in street canyons has been rarely studied due to the lack of modelling tools. In this study, we developed a new parametrization scheme for BIPV windows, and incorporated it into building energy simulations coupled with a single-layer urban canopy model. Evaluation against in-situ measurements and EnergyPlus simulation suggests that the coupled model is able to reasonably capture the diurnal profiles of BIPV window temperature, building cooling load, and outdoor microclimate. A set of simulations were conducted to examine the impact of BIPV windows on summertime building energy consumption and outdoor air temperature in different street canyons. Compared to clear glass windows, BIPV windows can reduce canyon air temperature and building cooling load. Temperature reduction is found to increase with window coverage but does not change significantly with canyon geometry. Savings on cooling energy consumption vary between 9.16% and 63.71% for the studied neighbourhood in Phoenix, US, but tend to be higher for open street canyons with north–south orientation and large window-to-wall ratios. The coupled model takes into account the dynamic interactions between building energy consumption and the outdoor microclimate, thus providing insight into the benefit of using BIPV windows at the neighbourhood scale.

A Sustainable Design Strategy Based on Building Morphology to Improve the Microclimate of University Campuses in Cold Regions of China Using an Optimization Algorithm

The microclimate affects the quality and efficiency of outdoor spaces of campuses, especially in the cold regions of China. In this paper, we propose a multiobjective optimization method to improve the thermal comfort of the outdoor environment of university campuses in severe cold regions. We used morphology data from 41 universities in the cold region of China to create a layout prototype of a campus cluster. Multiobjective optimization was used, and the effects of sunlight, solar radiation, and wind on the outdoor thermal comfort in winter were considered. A parameterized platform was established for the multiobjective optimization of the microclimate of the simplified model of the campus. A multiobjective optimization based on an evolutionary algorithm was used to obtain 108 groups of nondominated solutions. The optimum outdoor microclimate of the campus was obtained at a building density of 0.21–0.23, a plot ratio of 1.51–1.88, and a road width of 11–14 m. We recommend that buildings are designed based on the wind direction in winter and that the space between buildings is increased.

Wearable sensing techniques to understand pedestrian-level outdoor microclimate affecting heat related risk in urban parks

Around the world people are rapidly moving to cities. The rapid urbanization has led to changes in land use and land cover, which (i) modify the urban surface energy balance making the cities hotter than the surrounding rural area, (ii) exacerbate the impact of extreme weather events like heatwaves and (iii) lead to poor quality of life. City administrations around the world are undertaking drastic measures to mitigate extreme heat. Here, in this study we test a wearable sensing platform to both study pedestrian-level microclimate boundary conditions as well as the impact of urban greening on moderating excess heat in dense urban areas. The experiment presented here was conducted in New York City. Typically, the urban thermal state is estimated by means of direct observations from ground-based sensors, satellite based remote sensing techniques, and high-resolution urban climate modeling, all of which are too coarse to resolve pedestrian-level impacts, a key parameter in determining heat stress for citizens occupying the outdoors. Here a wearable and a portable sensing apparata were used to monitor key environmental parameters - air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, mean radiant temperature and solar radiation. The coupled monitoring platform included multiple sensors and a wireless data logging system which were all prototyped by the authors on open source technologies. The sensor platform was able to accurately map the thermal environment of multiple dense urban spaces, being to reproduce the spatial variability in key microclimate parameters, and the performance was comparable to traditional stationary ground-based weather stations. The results, which may be of key help also for validating microclimate forecasting models, indicate high spatial variability in temperature, humidity and solar radiation within the same urban parks. Our findings also indicate that on average small urban parks in a dense urban setting were able to reduce the air temperature by 3–7 °C in New York City with major gains during the mid-afternoon periods.

Thermal environmental effects of vertical greening and building layout in open residential neighbourhood design: a case study in Shanghai

Open residential neighbourhood (ORN) and vertical greening system (VGS) are two emerging urban design strategies in Southern Chinese cities. This paper numerically analysed the potential in thermal comfort improvement of these strategies. The strength and limitations of the ENVI-met model is understood through a validation against field-measured data. Then we conducted parameterized numerical simulation on the combined impacts of four types of building layout and six types of vertical greening on outdoor microclimate in a traditional urban block under renovation in Shanghai. Results indicate that the semi-enclosed layout with small building height difference and the enclosed layout are relatively beneficial; For different combinations of layout and greenery, the south-oriented vertical greening scenario yields the best thermal benefit per unit installed area, followed by the east-orientated scenario; overall, south-facing green facade allocated in semi-enclosed building layout with small height difference and enclosed building layout are recommended for optimizing pedestrian thermal comfort.

Influence of microclimate on the effect of green roofs in Southern Brazil – A study coupling outdoor and indoor thermal simulations

A comprehensive understanding of the effect of green roofs on the indoor thermal comfort, under different microclimates, will help to identify key design aspects. In this study, which is the first of its kind in Brazil, the indoor thermal comfort for two different types of roofs, under different microclimates in Porto Alegre in Southern Brazil, have been compared. Coupled simulations using ENVI-met and EnergyPlus linked calculations of outdoor microclimate and indoor thermal comfort. The site was approximately 100 m by 100 m with 24 one-story, naturally ventilated semi-detached houses with an area of 39 m2. One of the houses, located approximately in the middle of the site, represented the building scale. In the original site (with no tree shadings), the substitution of the ceramic by the green roof led to an increase of 9.1% of the time within the thermal comfort zone. This study helps to bridge the current gap between thermal simulations in different scales. Moreover, this investigation concluded that green roofs performed better when in a green environment: for the summer season, with trees partially shading the roof, the green roof resulted in a reduction of the maximum operative temperature by 4.3 °C, whereas for the site without trees, the reduction was 2.8 °C.

Tall buildings cluster form rationalization in a Nordic climate by factoring in indoor-outdoor comfort and energy

Considering climate change, controlling outdoor microclimates is an increasingly pressing concern. Microclimates have a significant effect on both outdoor and indoor comfort, and on the energy efficiency of buildings. This concern is particularly important as current climate conditions reveal that warmer summers are threatening the comfort of pedestrians and causing overheating in office environments, which is consequently increasing cooling energy consumption. A further concern is that this trend now extends to Nordic latitudes.Existing literature demonstrates how a local microclimate depends on many factors such as urban density, shape and orientation of buildings, the types of materials present, the number of green areas and anthropogenic activities. However, there is little research focusing on how reciprocal distances among tall buildings, and their relative position, affect outdoor and indoor comfort, and the associated energy consumption of buildings. This paper presents a unique and comprehensive insight into the interconnected nature of indoor and outdoor comfort via coupled simulations.It presents a study of clusters of tall commercial buildings located in the Nordic climate of Tallinn (Estonia) with different microclimates, and shows that the differences are due to variable shadowing and reflections and different wind patterns. The results, which focus on summer conditions, show that small variations of cluster layout strongly affect the local indoor and outdoor comfort, thus highlighting the need to conduct both studies simultaneously in research aiming to increase pedestrian and indoor comfort and resource efficiency.

From shrubs to urban dispersion: using biomimicry to generate a comfortable outdoor microclimate in New Cairo, Egypt

ABSTRACT This study examined how urban dispersion can act as passive thermal comfort method in New Cairo, Egypt. Using shrub dispersion patterns to determine the optimum dispersion pattern for urban settlements in hot climates. Shrubs’ self-organised patterns were examined, then translated into mathematical equations that formed the basis of an algorithm to guide the redistribution of existing buildings via four proposals. These proposals were examined using the Universal Thermal Comfort Index to compare them to the existing urban dispersion patterns. The numerical and visual outcomes indicate that the proposed dispersion patterns can achieve more comfortable urban microclimate than the existing conditions.

How to design comfortable open spaces for the elderly? Implications of their thermal perceptions in an urban park

Elderly residents are prominent users of urban parks and comfortable open spaces in parks have been shown to improve their physical health and mental well-being. In this study, the thermal perceptions (thermal sensation, thermal comfort and thermal acceptability) of elderly visitors to an urban park in Xi'an, China was investigated using meteorological measurements, questionnaire surveys and activity records. Physiological equivalent temperature (PET) was used to determine thermal benchmarks. Spatial-temporal distributions of the elderly in open spaces were recorded and relationships among elderly residents' thermal perceptions, their age and chronic disease were analyzed. Finally, optimal design strategies for open spaces suitable for the elderly were proposed based on meteorological characteristics, elderly residents' attendance patterns and their thermal perceptions. Results showed that: 1) globe temperature (Tg) and air temperature (Ta) were the primary meteorological factors that influenced elderly residents' thermal sensation while clothing insulation and activity intensity were negatively correlated with their thermal sensation. 2) Attendance was significantly affected by the outdoor microclimate, space functionality and facilities in spaces. The elderly mainly participated in dynamic activities and social interaction. 3) The neutral PET (NPET) was 13.2 °C, with NPET range (NPETR) of 3.1–23.2 °C. The 90% thermal acceptable PET ranged between 10.9 and 25.9 °C, and the preferred PET was 14.4 °C. Compared with the ISO7730 standard, the predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) elderly park users was lower than users of indoor spaces when −1 ≤ MTSV ≤ + 1, indicating that the elderly preferred to conduct activities outside when the environment was comfortable. Additionally, NPET for the elderly with respiratory disease was higher than those with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. 4) Optimal design strategies for open spaces were proposed for elderly residents based on their physical, physiological and psychological preferences.

Impact of building regulations on the perceived outdoor thermal comfort in the mixed-use neighbourhood of Chennai

The population in urban areas is increasing rapidly around the world in most of the cities. In India, this growth has forced the local governments to review the planning norms regularly with the main focus of making an affordable urban living. This resulted in increasing the built density without evaluating the effect of such developments on human thermal comfort. Outdoor microclimate is one of the significant factors that determine the quality of outdoor spaces. This study investigates the potential impact of the built geometry guided by the newly published development control rules of Chennai, India on the various parameters that influence microclimate. The existing and future scenario has been modelled for three locations in a typical mixed-use neighborhood of Chennai. Further, air temperature and relative humidity were measured in three locations on a typical summer month of May 2018. The recorded data was used for validating the simulated model and calibrating the model settings. Most of the studies on outdoor thermal comfort compare a base case scenario and project future scenarios. This paper is a more realistic comparison of outdoor thermal comfort between the actual resultant built environment guided by the new Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building Rules, 2019 for selected locations and the existing built geometry which is the outcome of revised development control rules of 2013. The study found a significant reduction of 18 °C in mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) and a reduction of 12 °C in Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) between the 2013 and the predicted built geometry as per 2019 building rules. Further the duration of extreme heat stress in the Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) scale show a reduction of 3 h during the day time. The study will assist urban planners and designers to include outdoor thermal comfort also as an important factor while developing building rules.

Combined Effect of Outdoor Microclimate Boundary Conditions on Air Conditioning System’s Efficiency and Building Energy Demand in Net Zero Energy Settlements

In Europe, near zero energy buildings (NZEBs) represent the new frontier of energy efficiency in the built environment. Shifting the scale from NZEBs to net zero energy (NZE) settlements represents the opportunity to achieve further energy, environmental, and cost benefits, thanks to shared energy management, optimization of renewable energy systems, and microclimate mitigation. In particular, the last aspect takes advantage of the implementation of local microclimate mitigation strategies at a larger scale to improve settlements outdoor environmental conditions and citizens’ wellbeing. Furthermore, this inter-building scale mitigation involves relatively less severe working boundary conditions for buildings, able to both reduce building energy demand and improve HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system’s efficiency. In this study, this potential extra-energy saving, achievable without additional costs, is explored within the framework of a NZE settlement built in Italy thanks to an ongoing Horizon 2020 project. Improved working conditions for the operating air conditioning system and building energy savings thanks to settlement scale opportunities for microclimate mitigation are assessed. Findings show how this effect represents a further non-negligible energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable benefit achievable through the design and construction of NZE settlements. Potential energy savings are up to 24% when considering the double effect of microclimate mitigation.

On the Outdoor Microclimates of Building Clusters in Cold Regions

Building clusters are settlements that are gradually formed by people living in cold regions after long-term resistance to the cold climate. For those facing extreme living environments, building clusters can effectively produce a cluster effect to generate a more comfortable outdoor microclimate for humans. In this paper, building clusters are summarized into 4 types, and a comparative study on the outdoor microclimates of the different types of building clusters is provided. In the study, the microclimate-based equivalent temperature (MBET) is used as the main parameter, and the micro-climate simulation software ENVI-met is used as a simulation tool. The results validate the important role of the building cluster type in producing the microclimate and provide a new basis for the type selection and design of building clusters in cold regions.

The Green Structure for Outdoor Places in Dry, Hot Regions and Seasons—Providing Human Thermal Comfort in Sustainable Cities

Hot and dry climate and air pollution is a growing problem in urban areas, and this can have an adverse impact on life and health of urban residents. One of the ways to protect people from this hazard is the use of urban green or street greenery. However, its implementation can be problematic in highly urbanized areas. This paper presents a concept of the green structure (GS), designed, and is still being developed, by Adam Kalinowski where cooling efficiency is based on the synergy of shade and evapotranspiration. The GS that could be used as street furniture, small architecture form or a public utility structure intended to protect people and objects from an adverse urban environment, at the same time providing pleasant and healthy microclimate inside. The pilot project-the first application of the GS in the urban environment-is presented and the results of short-term measurements of temperature and humidity are provided and analyzed. Moreover, a simple dynamic simulation of the GS performance in courtyards has been conducted. The obtained results show the decrease of the perceived temperature within this structure. Depending on climate type, an average potential reduction of Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI) and mean radiant temperature (Tmrt), caused by the GS in a courtyard case study, is 5–8 °C and 17–29 °C, respectively. Performed simulation also confirms that TRNSYS software is an appropriate tool for simple outdoor microclimate analysis. Further research to develop this concept, increase its performance and customize it for different applications are proposed.