Green Envelop Impact on Reducing Air Temperature and Enhancing Outdoor Thermal Comfort in Arid Climates

Abstract

Today Urban Cities faces energy and environmental challenges due to increased population, higher urbanization. The building sector has a big responsibility as it acquires high consumption rates in global energy and environmental scenarios. It is thought that the built environment in Egypt is responsible for 26% of the total overall national energy consumption, 62% of the total electricity consumption and around 70% of resultant CO2 emissions. The increased use of electrical appliances causes Urban Heat Island effect (UHI), which affect major urban centres. Adding green elements to any urban area is proved to be an effective strategy with numerous benefits to enhance the city's ecosystem, also mitigate the urban heat island measures. In this research Green roofs/walls can regulate outdoor air temperature by 10°C and improve outdoor thermal comfort by 2 Predicted Mean Value (PMV) values. The modelling of green strategy models can take into consideration design developments in areas with hot and dry climatic zones. The properties of green walls can directly affect the results of thermal comfort as leafs absorbs, reflects and transmits solar radiation, and increases the evapotranspiration.