Thermal effect of greenery in building envelopes: shading devices and windbreakers for walls and roofing systems

• Grant number: 12/06990-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2013
• End date: July 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Architecture and Urbanism Technology
• Principal Investigator: Lucila Chebel Labaki
• Grantee: Lucila Chebel Labaki
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of vegetation as bioclimatic strategy is well known both by academic and construction professionals. However there are few studies on the effectiveness of living roofs and walls to create comfortable environments. As part of the facade and roofing system, the vegetation can minimize heat gain, providing better thermal comfort conditions in buildings. The adoption of this element of the facade and live coverage must be present from the beginning of the design process. The purpose of this research is to measure the influence of the creeper on the external surfaces of the building, both in the vertical and the horizontal and the interferences with the microclimate of the area outside and inside the object of study. The aim of this project is to conduct a survey and analysis of the behavior of some creeper plants commonly used in the city of Campinas, SP, and their contribution to mitigate the heat gain inside the building, through the following indicators: thermal comfort afforded, most suitable facade orientation, aesthetics, maintenance and conservation of the building and vegetation. By means of these indicators it will be obtained a second indicator of efficiency for different skin creeping factor (green factor). The research will be conducted in experimental test cells in the city of Campinas, with a comparison of thermal performance in cells differing only by the presence of ivy on the facade and roof. To evaluate the behavior of the vine, its effects will be measured through air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, surface temperature of the inner and outside wall and roof (fibrovegetal tile and slab). The data analysis will be carried out by comparing the surface temperatures and heat flow through the walls and roofs with and without vegetation. The first approach to set the behaviour of the creepers will be by the method of temperature, then the method of heat flow and the green factor, characterizing the cooling action of the wall and a cover crop. As expected results of this research, it will be possible to provide for designers a simple parameter to evaluate the effect of the creeper in the reduction of solar heat gain in the building. (AU)