Simulation-based study on the role of green roof settings on energy demand reduction in seven Australian climate zones

Abuseif, Majed; Jamei, Elmira; Chau, Hing-Wah

doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.112938

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…These results suggest that increasing the vegetation density on green roofs can enhance their energy-saving potential. Similar findings have been reported in previous studies, emphasising the role of vegetation density in improving thermal performance and reducing energy consumption [67,68]. However, increasing the LAI to 2.5 showed less of an impact on energy reduction than 1.08, with only a marginal decrease of 0.02%.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Simulation-Based Study on the Effect of Green Roofs on Summer Energy Performance in Melbourne

Jamei,

Thirunavukkarasu,

Abuseif

et al. 2023

Land

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Green roofs are increasingly recognised as a crucial urban solution, addressing climate change, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable architecture in densely populated areas. In this manuscript, the research study delves into the influence of green roofs on energy consumption, focusing on the Treasury Place building in Melbourne, Australia. The utilisation of DesignBuilder and EnergyPlus simulations was explored. Various green roof parameters such as the Leaf Area Index (LAI), plant height, soil moisture, and tree coverage were optimised and compared against base case scenarios. The key findings indicate an optimal LAI of 1.08 for maximum energy savings, with diminishing returns beyond an LAI of 2.5. The soil moisture content was most effective, around 50%, while a plant height of approximately 0.33 m optimised energy reduction. The introduction of 50% canopy tree coverage provided temperature regulation, but increased soil moisture due to trees and their influence on wind flow had an adverse energy impact. These results emphasise the necessity for precise green roof representation and parameter optimisation for maximum energy efficiency. This research offers essential insights for those in urban planning and building design, endorsing green roofs as a pivotal solution for sustainable urban environments.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Simulation-Based Study on the Effect of Green Roofs on Summer Energy Performance in Melbourne

Jamei,

Thirunavukkarasu,

Abuseif

et al. 2023

Land

Self Cite

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“…There is a study which integrates EnergyPlus with the Green Roof Model, known as the EcoRoof model, to allow study of the heat reduction potential of a green roof by modelling the surface energy partitioning and sensible heat fluxes [46]. It is also able to integrate with SketchUP Pro-2019 3D and OpenStudio v3.0.1 software to create 3D models in order to conduct spatial analysis of thermal energy, based on different scenario settings of leaf area index, soil moisture, and plant height [47]. At building scale, EnergyPlus is the popular choice and very accurate in analysing building performance, but at an urban scale analysis might require co-simulation to provide a better model and realistic conditions [48].…”

Section: Simulation Tools For Outdoor Thermal Comfort Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

A Simulation-Based Study on the Impact of Parametric Design on Outdoor Thermal Comfort and Urban Overheating

Wai,

Tariq,

Chau

et al. 2024

Land

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Under the current energy crisis and climate change, sustainable urban planning and building design are a priority to achieve a net-zero future, as energy use in buildings for thermal comfort is one of the major carbon emission contributors. To adapt to a rapidly growing and stringent urban environment, where buildings are causing more emissions due to more frequent and severe extreme hot weather events, the parametric design approach has great potential and flexibility in providing a sustainable solution by simulating different design scenarios. This study aims to analyse urban geometry and identify the impact of various built environment scenarios on outdoor thermal comfort under certain climates. The Grasshopper program was used along with the Ladybugs plug-in to provide visualised outcomes of outdoor thermal comfort, with simulation models on Rhinoceros 3D Version 7 SR37 (7.37.24107.1500). Comparing the thermal comfort performance of different design scenarios, based on building height, orientation and urban geometry, helps to identify which factors are more impactful on building design. This study demonstrates the workflow of parametric design in analysing the microclimate pattern and outdoor thermal comfort performance of the existing built environment in Melbourne, Australia, to provide an insight for stakeholders and builders to inform better decision-making in urban planning and building design in order to achieve a zero-emission future.

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“…Numerous theoretical and practical studies have been conducted to evaluate the energy conservation attained by GR systems [13,26,27,41,[72][73][74][75]. GR energy benefits include a significant reduction in the roof's thermal transmittance (U-value), leading to improved roof insulation and a reduction in the cooling and heating load; a decrease in indoor air temperature during the summer, mainly caused by evapotranspiration, but also by shading provided by roof plants; a reduction in surface temperature in the summer, influencing heat transfer processes; and improved indoor air conditions and thermal comfort [13,26,76,77]. Building characteristics and heat transfer mechanisms, which are predominantly determined by building components and roof U-values, have a substantial impact on energy savings, which are reflected in the reduction in cooling and heating loads.…”

Section: Energy Benefits Of Green Roofsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Urban Environment through Green Roofs: A Literature Review with Case Studies

Perivoliotis,

Arvanitis,

Tzavali

et al. 2023

Sustainability

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This study conducts a literature review coupled with case-study calculations comparing the thermal contribution of semi-intensive and intensive (deeper) green roofs to non-insulated and insulated building roofs, and enhancing comprehension by validating applied scenarios with published literature-based data. Mitigation of the urban heat island is crucial for reducing energy consumption and enhancing urban sustainability, especially through natural solutions such as green (i.e., planted) roofs. The energy and environmental benefits of green roofs include energy conservation, thermal comfort, noise reduction, and aesthetic improvement. Legal mandates, innovative business models, financial subsidies and incentives, regulations, etc. are all components of green roof policies. Conflicts between private property owners and the public, regulatory gaps, and high installation costs are among the challenges. Green roofs are layered and incorporate interacting thermal processes. Green roof models are either based on the calculation of thermal transmittance (U-values), an experimental energy balance, or data-driven (primarily neural network) approaches. U-values were calculated for eight hypothetical scenarios consisting of four non-insulated and four insulated roofs, with or without semi-intensive and intensive green roofs of various materials and layer thicknesses. While the non-planted, non-insulated roof had the highest U-value, planted roofs were particularly effective for non-insulated roofs. Three of these scenarios were in reasonable accord with experimental and theoretical thermal transmittance literature values. Finally, a non-insulated planted roof, particularly one with rockwool, was found to provide a certain degree of thermal insulation in comparison to a non-planted insulated roof.

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Simulation-based study on the role of green roof settings on energy demand reduction in seven Australian climate zones

Cited by 10 publications

References 46 publications

Simulation-Based Study on the Effect of Green Roofs on Summer Energy Performance in Melbourne

Simulation-Based Study on the Effect of Green Roofs on Summer Energy Performance in Melbourne

A Simulation-Based Study on the Impact of Parametric Design on Outdoor Thermal Comfort and Urban Overheating

Sustainable Urban Environment through Green Roofs: A Literature Review with Case Studies

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