Vertical greening systems and the effect on air flow and temperature on the building envelope

The use of horizontal and vertical greening has an important impact on the thermal performance of buildings and on the effect of the urban environment as well, both in summer and winter. Plants are functioning as a solar filter and prevent the adsorption of heat radiation of building materials extensively. Applying green façades is not a new concept; however it has not been approved as an energy saving method for the built environment. Vertical greening can provide a cooling potential on the building surface, which is very important during summer periods in warmer climates. In colder climates evergreen species create an external insulation layer and contribute to energy savings and loss of heat. In this study an analysis of the effect on air flow and (air and surface) temperature of vertical greening systems on the building level is presented. An experimental approach was set up to measure the temperature (air and surface) and the air flow near and on different types of green façades and a living wall system to evaluate the influence of wind velocity and its effect on the thermal resistance. A comparison between measurements on a bare façade and a plant covered façade has taken, in the beginning of autumn, to understand the contribution of vegetation to the thermal behaviour of the building envelope.