Seasonal thermal behavior of green facades made up of perennial climbing species on west-facing mass walls. Case study in arid zones

Abstract

This work evaluates the seasonal thermal behavior of Traditional Green Facades (FVT), as in the environments as exterior and interior surfaces in cities of arid zones. Methodologically, an experimental trial was developed under controlled conditions consisting of three masonry walls, two of them with vegetation cover and one without any type of coverage, all facing west and isolated to the north, south and east. Meteorological variables —outdoor and indoor ambient temperature, and exterior and interior surface temperature— were monitored during two periods of seven days in winter and summer 2021-2022. The results obtained show temperature variations in the walls with vegetation cover regard to the control wall. They reach magnitudes of increase in winter indoor ambient temperature of up to 0.8 °C, reductions in summer of up to 4.4 °C, and decreases of average outdoor ambient temperature up to 3.9 °C in warm season. This shows the effectiveness of a strategy of minimum technological complexity to improve the thermal behavior of spaces and contribute to residential energy efficiency and the reduction of temperatures on an urban scale in cities with an arid climate.