An increase in traffic, growing industrial activity and a surge in energy use due to urbanization result in increased greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Reducing energy use is key to mitigate environmental damage. In European countries, 36% of all greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to buildings. A lot of energy is used to cool buildings, that is why solutions that would achieve a cooling effect at no additional energy cost are highly sought after. One of the solutions is the use of plants that can effectively intercept solar radiation, which reduces the temperature in and around buildings.
In light of the above, this master's thesis attempts to determine the influence of non-contact green façade on the thermal response of the building. In addition to the theoretical part, the thesis contains an experimental and simulation part. The experimental measurements were carried out from 16 June to 30 October 2018 at the already-existing building in the town of Punat on the island of Krk. A non-contact green façade sample with dimensions of 1.9 x 1.5 m was made. The impact was evaluated based on how much the plant intercepts solar radiation and thus changes the temperature conditions on the facade surface. Changes in plant growth, weather at the location and sky conditions were monitored. The value of the intercepted amount of solar radiation due to greenery depended mainly on the plant's growth. We analysed in more detail the period from 5 to 15 August 2018. The maximum value of the intercepted solar radiation on a clear day was 505 W/m2, which amounted to 82% of the radiation in front of the plant. The largest difference in temperature on the sunlit façade and the façade behind the plant was 13,5 K, which was a decrease of 29%. Based on the results obtained from the experimental measurements, a simulation of the effect of non-contact green façade on the operative indoor temperature was made. We compared the impact of installing non-contact green façade in front of a part or an entire exterior surface of the building envelope. Based on the results obtained from the experiment and simulations, it is concluded that, due to the interception of solar radiation, the non-contact green façade has the effect of reducing the surface temperature of the building envelope and, consequently, of reducing the operative indoor temperature.
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