Evaluation of green roof constructive systems: subsidies for a new high performance proposal

• Grant number: 21/09133-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): December 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Architecture and Urbanism Technology
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Luís Daminelli
• Grantee: Sofia Negri Braz
• Host Institution: Instituto de Arquitetura e Urbanismo de São Carlos (IAU). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The accelerated and poorly organized urbanization process generated an unbridled growth of urban centers, effectively contributing to environmental degradation throughout the world. Given this, measures inducing environmental protection, which include measures, in addition to environmental, social and economic, have been seen as a strategy towards the sustainable development of urban centers. In this sense, the implantation of alternative green areas in this environment is an idea that emerged in Germany, which permanently encourages the implantation of nature in our environment. In addition to parks and gardens, the deployment of green roofs and green roofs has increased in recent decades. In countries with a hot and humid climate, such as much of Brazil, green roofs can make a great contribution to reducing the thermal load of buildings and reducing the speed of rainwater runoff on days of intense rain. Despite this potential, they are still little used in the country, which is due to: 1) lack of knowledge of architects and civil engineers about the construction system and its details for execution; 2) problems related to maintenance; 3) lack of quantitative data to demonstrate earning potentials; and 4) lack of a low-cost system that is easy to implement and maintain, in addition to energy and rainwater drainage gains. Therefore, the objective of this project is to propose an innovative constructive system for green roofs, which is easy to implement, easy to maintain and has good thermal, acoustic and reduced rainfall performance in buildings. The methodology will seek to comparatively evaluate the performance of conventional roofing systems (ceramic tiles or asbestos cement) and green roofing systems already known or new on the market, in order to quantify the significant differences with regard to thermal and acoustic comfort, contribution to the flow and reuse of rainwater and ease of construction and maintenance. For this, prototypes will be executed at stations located in the Civil Construction Laboratory (LCC) of the Institute of Architecture and Urbanism of USP - São Carlos campus, which will have data monitored for 6 months (data will include summer and winter) related thermal, acoustic, rainwater drainage and possible critical points for maintenance. Subsequently, a survey will be carried out on the difficulties encountered by construction professionals in Brazil regarding the application of current technologies available. The third and last stage will, based on the data collected in the two previous ones, carry out a proposal for a new construction system for green roofs in order to optimize the problems and difficulties encountered. As a final product, it is expected to obtain a green roof constructive system that has real potential for application, which could bring significant benefits on an urban scale. (AU)