Thermal characterization of a modular living wall for improved energy performance in buildings

• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110102
• Publication Date: 2023-02-15T16:30:13Z
• Authors: Zaloa Azkorra-Lar...; Aitor Erkoreka-Go...; Koldobika Martín-...; Estibaliz Pérez-I...; Naiara Romero-Antón
• Keywords: vrtical greenery; 13. Climate action; energy saving; 11. Sustainability; modular living wall; 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; 02 engineering and technology; energy performance; PASLINK test Cell; 7. Clean energy

Vertical vegetation systems are an innovative passive method for decreasing the thermal energy demand of buildings while increasing the quality of urban life. The main objective of this work is to calculate the effectiveness of vegetation in reducing thermal loads analytically. For this purpose, the thermal energy performance of the modular living wall was compared with a traditional double façade construction system to evaluate the influence of vegetation using Stochastic Differential Equations models. The research was carried out experimentally using a real-scale PASLINK test cell. The thermal behaviour of a double leaf bare wall and the same double leaf wall converted into a modular living wall were calculated for different summertime and wintertime periods. In both studied cases, the temperature of the exterior surface of the bare wall is taken at the same place regardless of whether or not there is greenery system in the energy balance. With this simplification, the effect of the modular living wall can be identified within the estimated coefficients. The thermal resistance of the conventional double façade increased 0.74 (m2 K)/W over the non-greened wall, which represents a weighted increase of 49%. Additionally, the experimental results showed that the evapotraspiration processes that take place in the living wall lead to an increase in the combined convection-radiation coefficient, which reduces the overheating of the façade. Moreover, the effective solar absorptivity value of the outermost surface of the bare wall has been reduced an 85% thanks to the living wall, which confirms the high capacity of the living wall to reduce solar heat gains.<br/>This publication is part of the R+D+i project PID2021-126739OB-C22, financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and “ERDF A way of making Europe”. This project has been made possible thanks to the agreement between the Basque Government and the University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU through of the ENEDI research group for the management and development of the Thermal Area of the Buildings Quality Control Laboratory of the Basque Government (ATLCCE). Open Access funding provided by University of Basque Country.<br/>