Green Roof Energetics: Systematic Organization and Integration of Knowledge

Abstract

Study of green-roof energetics improves understanding of thermal-energy processes to achieve more ambient and indoor cooling in summer and indoor warming in winter. The holistic green-building roof system offers an integrated research entity. Matter and energy flow amongst four compartments, namely ambient-air, greenroof, building-roof, and indoor-air, defines the conceptual framework. Thermal defence is evaluated by active evapotranspiration cooling and passive warming avoidance mechanisms, including subsurface cooling and abiotic-biotic thermal insulation. Theoretical and empirical findings are translated into practical hints to optimize energy effectiveness with respect to reducing heat gain, increasing heat loss, increasing thermal resistance, and increasing thermal mass effects.