- A new study has found that green roofs could cool South Korea’s capital city by nearly 1°C during the summer months, reducing energy demand associated with cooling by almost 8% under maximum cover.
- This research was the first to analyze the transformative impact of green roofs on energy consumption and climate conditions at an urban scale.
- In addition to the important climatic benefits of green roofs, they also have many other important benefits such as absorbing rainwater, increasing biodiversity and improving the aesthetic quality of the city.
Extensive greenery on building rooftops could significantly reduce temperatures and reduce energy costs on a city scale, according to a new study. The research, led by Indira Adilkhanova and Professor Geun Young Yun from Kyung Hee University and authored by UNSW Sydney Scientia Professor Mattheos Santamouris, found that green roofs could cool South Korea’s capital city by around 1°C during the summer months, reducing the energy demand associated with cooling by almost 8% under maximum cover. revealed that it could be reduced by
Nature CitiesThe study, published in , is the first to analyze the transformative impact of green roofs on energy consumption and climate conditions at an urban scale and could provide a template for modeling their potential in other cities around the world. Professor Anita Lawrence Chair in high-performance Mpmari at UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture. Santamouris said, “We have previously only looked at the energy impact of green roofs for individual buildings, but this study is the first to evaluate the actual climate and energy impacts of green roofs on a city scale. Our findings reveal the enormous potential of green roofs to significantly reduce a city’s peak temperature and increase energy savings. ” says.
As our cities get hotter, thermal discomfort and heat-related illnesses and deaths increase. Green roofs are a promising strategy for reducing urban heat and energy consumption. The ability of green roofs to be installed and retrofitted on new buildings provides a scalable nature-based solution to address the challenges of urban heat.
The research team conducted large-scale cooling climate and building energy simulations under three greenery coverage scenarios to evaluate the temperature reduction potential of green roofs in August, the hottest summer month in Seoul. The team focused specifically on large non-irrigated green roofs, a lightweight type of green roof that has the potential for large-scale application and lower maintenance costs.
Modeling revealed more significant reductions in temperatures and energy demand as coverage of green roof systems increased. When 90% of buildings were covered with green roofs, the city’s air temperature and surface temperature decreased by 2.17°C. Building energy use decreased by approximately 7.7% (0.64 kWh/m2).
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Green roofs help cool temperatures by facilitating evaporation through plant transpiration. This cools the surrounding air and reduces the need for mechanical cooling systems, reducing overall energy demand. In addition, the soil and vegetation layer on green roofs provides insulation, reducing heat transfer to buildings and further reducing energy costs.
The performance of green roofs is greatly affected by various parameters, especially humidity, precipitation, solar radiation and temperature. However, in addition to the important climatic benefits of green roofs, they also have many other important benefits, such as absorbing rainwater, increasing biodiversity and improving the aesthetic quality of the city.
Dr. Santamouris warns that failure to implement urban heat reduction strategies such as green roofs will have serious consequences. According to current trends, night temperatures in cities could increase by up to 5°C by 2050. Dr. Santamouris states that a combination of heat reduction techniques and technologies should be implemented in cities to reduce urban temperatures.
Compiled by: Esin Özcan