Evaluating the Impact of Vegetation Diversity in Extensive Green Roofs on Building Energy Consumption: A Case Study of Residential Buildings in Tabriz City

Faghihinia, Zeynab; Hami, Ahmad; Saadatjoo, Paria

Evaluating the Impact of Vegetation Diversity in Extensive Green Roofs on Building Energy Consumption: A Case Study of Residential Buildings in Tabriz City

Document Type : Article extracted from dissertations

Authors

Zeynab Faghihinia ¹

Ahmad Hami ²

Paria Saadatjoo ³

¹ landscape Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

² Associated Professor of landscape engineering, Department of Landscape engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

³ Department of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Objective: Due to climate change and the increasing global demand for energy, there is a growing need to reconsider energy consumption approaches and enhance efficiency. One of the proposed solutions in recent years is the implementation of green roofs, which have been shown to positively impact energy consumption in buildings by reducing heat transfer, providing shading, and controlling pollutants. The performance of green roofs is influenced by various factors, one of which is the type of vegetation used. This study aims to investigate the effect of different vegetation types on building energy consumption in cold climates.
Method and Materials: This research is a descriptive-analytical study. A one-story residential building in Tabriz was selected for the study, and three types of vegetation—Vinca, Frankenia, and Sedum—were chosen for the green roof. Energy simulations and evaluations of the building's thermal behavior were conducted using DesignBuilder 7.0.2.004 software.
Findings and Conclusion: The results indicated that the use of Vinca, Frankenia, and Sedum vegetation on the green roof reduced energy consumption by 4.2%, 3.9%, and 3.8%, respectively, compared to a building with a conventional roof. Among the tested species, Vinca proved to be the most effective green cover for extensive roof gardens in reducing building energy consumption. Green roofs in Tabriz’s climate present a practical and sustainable solution for reducing energy consumption in cold and dry climates. The results confirm the positive impact of green roofs on building energy optimization in this climate.

Keywords

Green roof

thermal performance

energy consumption

building

green cover

Tabriz city

eastern Azarbaejan Province

Subjects

Urban Design

Algarni, S. (2019). Potential for cooling load reduction in residential buildings using cool roofs in the harsh climate of Saudi Arabia. Energy & Environment, 30(2), 235-253.

Aliakbarzadeh, R., & Feyzmanesh, F. (2018). A comparative study of green roof gardens for heat island moderation in Ardabil Metropolis. Green Architecture, 11(Summer), 1–12

Amit, Grover., Pankaj, Chhabra. (2024). 6. Navigating the path to sustainability: the construction industry's crucial role. The Genesis, 11 (2). doi: 10.47211/tg.2024.v11i02.007

Ragab, A., & Abdelrady, A. (2020). Impact of green roofs on energy demand for cooling in Egyptian buildings. Sustainability, 12(14), 5729.

Kamel, B., Wahba, S., Nassar, K., & Abdelsalam, A. (2012, December). Effectiveness of green-roof on reducing energy consumption through simulation program for a residential building: Cairo, Egypt. In Construction Research Congress 2012: Construction Challenges in a Flat World (pp. 1740-1749).

Pawar, B. S., & Kanade, G. N. (2018). Energy optimization of building using design builder software. International Journal of New Technology and Research, 4(1), 263152.

Cavadini, G. B., & Cook, L. M. (2021). Green and cool roof choices integrated into rooftop solar energy modelling. Applied Energy, 296, 117082.

Coma, J., Pérez, G., Solé, C., Castell, A., & Cabeza, L. F. (2016). Thermal assessment of extensive green roofs as passive tool for energy savings in buildings. Renewable energy, 85, 1106-1115.

De-Ville, S., Menon, M., & Stovin, V. (2018). Temporal variations in the potential hydrological performance of extensive green roof systems. Journal of Hydrology, 558, 564-578.

Elantary, A., & Saleem, M. (2023). The Energy-Saving Potential of a Green Roof on Existing Residential Buildings. A Case Study of Jubail Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Engineering Research, 7(2), 125-132.

Khotbehsara, E. M., Daemei, A. B., & Malekjahan, F. A. (2019). Simulation study of the eco green roof in order to reduce heat transfer in four different climatic zones. Results in Engineering, 2, 100010.

Fazelpour, F., Soltani, N., Soltani, S., & Rosen, M. A. (2015). Assessment of wind energy potential and economics in the north-western Iranian cities of Tabriz and Ardabil. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 45, 87-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.01.045

Gallardo, N. P., de Figueiredo Neves, G. Z., & Tech, A. R. B. (2016). Thermal response to heat in buildings with green covers for tropical climate: green facades and green roofs. Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, 10(8), 919-31.

Goncalves Filho, A. P., Jun, G. T., & Waterson, P. (2019). Four studies, two methods, one accident–An examination of the reliability and validity of Accimap and STAMP for accident analysis. Safety science, 113, 310-317.

He, Y., Yu, H., Ozaki, A., & Dong, N. (2020). Thermal and energy performance of green roof and cool roof: A comparison study in Shanghai area. Journal of Cleaner Production, 267, 122205

Juras, P. (2022). Positive aspects of green roof reducing energy consumption in winter. Energies, 15(4), 1493.

Karachaliou, P., Santamouris, M., & Pangalou, H. (2016). Experimental and numerical analysis of the energy performance of a large scale intensive green roof system installed on an office building in Athens. Energy and Buildings, 114, 256-264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.04.055

Lee, E., Seo, Y., & Woo, D. K. (2024). Enhanced environmental and economic benefits of green roofs in a humid subtropical region under future climate. Ecological Engineering, 201, 107221.

Akanksha., Anil, Dhamdhere., Mayuri., Ashok, Dhalwade. (2023). 3. A detail review: on Vinca Plant (Catharanthus roseus). International Research Journal Of Modernization In Engineering Technology And Scienc, 5(8), doi: 10.56726/irjmets43796

Amani, N., Sabamehr, A., & Palmero Iglesias, L. M. (2022). Review on energy efficiency using the ecotect simulation software for residential building sector. International Journal of Energy and Environment (IJEE), 13(3), 284-294.

Nursat, Kulumkanov., Abid, Nadeem., Serik, Tokbolat. (2023). 26. Green roof energy performance in different climate zones: a simulation study. doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/2600/9/092027

Ran, J., & Tang, M. (2018). Passive cooling of the green roofs combined with night-time ventilation and walls insulation in hot and humid regions. Sustainable cities and society, 38, 466-475.

Ran, J., Yang, Z., Feng, Y., Xiong, K., & Tang, M. (2020). Energy performance assessment and optimization of extensive green roofs in different climate zones of China. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 172, p. 16003). EDP Sciences.

Rickard, S. (2011). The new ornamental garden. Csiro Publishing.

Sadeghian, O., Moradzadeh, A., Mohammadi-Ivatloo, B., Abapour, M., Anvari-Moghaddam, A., Lim, J. S., & Marquez, F. P. G. (2021). A comprehensive review on energy saving options and saving potential in low voltage electricity distribution networks: Building and public lighting. Sustainable Cities and Society, 72, 103064.

Saleh, S. Y., & Alfarra, O. G. (2023, May). The Effect of Green Roofs-Types on the Design of Energy-Efficient Buildings in Gaza Strip: A Co-simulation Parametric Study. In 2023 8th International Engineering Conference on Renewable Energy & Sustainability (ieCRES) (pp. 1-5). IEEE.

Tan, T., Kong, F., Yin, H., Cook, L. M., Middel, A., & Yang, S. (2023). Carbon dioxide reduction from green roofs: A comprehensive review of processes, factors, and quantitative methods. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 182, 113412.

Virk, G., Jansz, A., Mavrogianni, A., Mylona, A., Stocker, J., & Davies, M. (2015). Microclimatic effects of green and cool roofs in London and their impacts on energy use for a typical office building. Energy and Buildings, 88, 214-228.

Weinstein, G. (1999). Xeriscape handbook: a how-to guide to natural, resource-wise gardening. Fulcrum Publishing.

Whittinghill, L. J., Rowe, D. B., Schutzki, R., & Cregg, B. M. (2014). Quantifying carbon sequestration of various green roof and ornamental landscape systems. Landscape and Urban Planning, 123, 41-48.

Widya, Wardhani., Ika, Rahmawati, Suyanto., Sekar, Arum, Azzahra. (2022). 10. Review: potensi manfaat aplikasi green roof. Jurnal Environmental Science, doi: 10.35580/jes.v4i2.24630

Zheng, Y., & Chen, L. (2023). Modeling the effect of green roofs for building energy savings and air pollution reduction in Shanghai. Sustainability, 16(1), 286.

Ziogou, I., Michopoulos, A., Voulgari, V., & Zachariadis, T. (2018). Implementation of green roof technology in residential buildings and neighborhoods of Cyprus. Sustainable cities and society, 40, 233-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2018.04.007 Get rights and content