F. Convertino et al.
Building and Environment 177 (2020) 106875
respectively. Differently, at night-time, the BW was 1.3 � C, 0.5 � C and
1.0 � C colder than the CW in summer, in autumn and in winter,
respectively. The same trend was observed by other authors [57–59].
The GL reduced diurnal temperature swings and, as a consequence, the
CW was thermally more stable than the BW.
Some authors [59–62], analysing the energy behaviour of VGs
realized with evergreen species, highlighted the positive contribution of
the vegetation to the reduction of the building energy demand for
heating, in the cold period. This finding was justified with the increase of
the building envelope insulation, thanks to the greenery, and to the
reduction of heat losses by LWIR and convective heat transfer. Our
findings agree with these results. Actually, we specifically quantified the
contribution of the LWIR radiative energy flow. Our research focused
only on the LWIR radiative energy balance of the envelope surface, and
our results showed that part of the energy saving can be attributed to the
thermal barrier effect of the vegetation layer.
In this research, it was recorded that, in presence of full growth of the
foliage coverage, the inner and the outer side of the GL had different
temperatures (Fig. 2). During daytime, the temperature of the outer side
was, on average, 1.3 � C, 1.4 � C and 1.8 � C warmer than the inner side in
summer, in autumn and in winter, respectively. The maximum differ­
ence was equal to 3.6 � C, 3.9 � C and 4.2 � C in summer, in autumn and in
winter, respectively. During night-time the inner side was generally
warmer than the outer side, with the exception for the winter period. On
average, leaves facing the gap were 0.5 � C and 0.1 � C warmer than the
external leaves, with maximum values of 1.5 � C and 0.9 � C in summer
and in autumn, respectively. In winter, the inner side of the GL was, on
average, 0.1 � C colder than the external leaves, with a maximum dif­
ference of 0.4 � C. Unlike most studies [54,58,63], in which a single
canopy temperature was measured and used, we recorded a temperature
gradient between the two sides of the GL. This is significant and has an
important role in the heat exchange.
5. Conclusions
Green façades use vegetation as sustainable tool for improving
building energy performance. This green skin positively affects indoor
and outdoor microclimatic conditions and human wellbeing. To perform
their best design and application and to quantify their real advantages,
Appendix A. LWIR clear sky radiation models
Empirical models based on sky emissivity correlations.
Berdahl and Martin [40]:
� � � �2
εsκy ¼ 0:711 þ 0:56 Tdp 273:15 ∕100 þ 0:73 Tdp 273:15 ∕100
Walton [42]:
�
εsky ¼ 0:787 þ 0:764 ln Tdp ∕273
Idso [43]:
εsky ¼ 0:7 þ 5:95⋅10 7 Pv expð1500 = Tea Þ
Empirical direct models.
Garg [44]:
Tsky ¼ Tea 20
Swinbank [45]:
1:5
Tsky ¼ 0:0552Tea
Detailed models.
Dilley and O’Brien [46]:
εsky ¼ 1 expð 1:66τÞ
15
building designers need green façades energy models. All the occurring
heat and mass transfer mechanisms must be investigated to model a
green façade system.
This research investigated the long-wave infrared energy exchanges
in a green façade system compared to a bare wall, in clear sky condi­
tions. Data concerning an experimental green façade realized at the
University of Bari were used to support the analytical considerations and
to apply mathematical relationships.
Many parameters must be considered to define the infrared fluxes.
The radiometric properties of the surfaces were experimentally
determined.
A mathematical approach was followed to find the configuration
factor between the ground and the vertical surface. This allowed to
determine the size of ground surface around the wall having a significant
influence on the infrared exchanges with the wall.
The sky radiation model to be used in green façade modelling is also
relevant. Therefore, nine models were considered and applied. The
approach proposed by Walton [42] was found to be the best fitting one
for clear skies.
The results of this research can be useful for the definition of the
infrared radiative exchanges occurring on the vertical walls of buildings
and specifically in a green façade system. The findings can be imple­
mented in tools and routines used in software simulating building en­
ergy performance.
This study also compared the long-wave infrared energy balance of
the bare and of the covered wall, during a summer, an autumn and a
winter period. It emerged the effective role of thermal barrier played by
the green layer, which allows to reduce energy losses from the wall
surface by long-wave infrared radiation in the cold periods of the year.
This finding provides a contribution to the few other available studies on
the effects of green façades, realized with evergreen species, during
warm and cold seasons. Future development of the research could
consider cloudy sky conditions as well as the modelling of other heat
transfer mechanisms, such as convection and transpiration.
Acknowledgments
The contribution to programming and conducting this research must
be equally shared between the Authors.
(A.1)
(A.2)
(A.3)
(A.4)
(A.5)
(A.6)