Cooling and Energy-Saving Performance of Different Green Wall Design: A Simulation Study of a Block

• Main Authors: Jiayu Li, Bohong Zheng, Wenquan Shen, Yanfen Xiang, Xiao Chen, Zhiyong Qi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-07-01
• Series: Energies
• Subjects: envi-met; super soil; air temperature; wall surface temperature; refrigeration power
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/15/2912

To mitigate the urban heat island (UHI) and release the low carbon potential of green walls, we analyzed the cooling and energy-saving performance of different green wall designs. <i>Envi-met</i> was applied as the main simulation tool, and a pedestrian street named Yuhou Street was selected as the study object. Four designs of walls were summarized and simulated, demonstrating the living wall system (LWS). Super soil had superiority in cooling and energy saving. Outdoor air temperature, indoor air temperature, outside wall surface temperature, and inside wall surface temperature were analyzed. Apart from the outdoor air temperature, the other three temperatures were all significantly affected by the design of green walls. Finally, energy savings in building cavities were determined. The indoor energy saving ratio of the LWS based on super soil reached 19.92%, followed by the LWS based on boxes at 15.37%, and green facades wall at 6.29%. The indoor cooling powers on this typical day showed that the cooling power of the LWS based on super soil was 8267.32 W, followed by the LWS based on boxes at 6381.57 W<i>,</i> and green facades wall at 2610.08 W. The results revealed the difference in cooling and energy-saving performance of different green walls in this typical hot summer area.