Simulation-Based Evaluation of the Effect of Green Roofs in Office Building Districts on Mitigating the Urban Heat Island Effect and Reducing CO2 Emissions

Abstract

This study focused on the effects of green roofs in office building districts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of green roofs in the reduction of the urban heat island (UHI) effect and CO2 emissions. These effects consider decreased energy consumption for space cooling, and the amount of water needed for evapotranspiration on the green roofs. A coupled urban canopy/building energy model (CM-BEM) was utilized to simulate the effectiveness of green roofs. The amount of water needed for evapotranspiration was calculated by using latent heat flux, which was derived from the results of roof surface heat balance calculations. The effect of green roofs on CO2 emissions was determined based on their effectiveness to reduce the energy demand for space cooling, calculated by air-conditioning load simulation. We calculated the CO2 emissions from powering the pumps and the use of tap water, when the necessary amount of water was supplied by watering. Finally, the relationships between amount of water, UHI mitigation, and CO2 emissions were determined.