The effect of green roof indicators on energy optimization in buildings - in the cold and dry climate - Tabriz, Iran.

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of landscape Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran

2 Department of Architecture, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

10.22034/saps.2025.62851.3264

Abstract

Background and Objective: The purpose of the study was to look into the effect of green roof plant bed depth, plant height, and leaf area index on thermal behavior in Tabriz city residential structures.
Materials and Methods: This research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach using the DesignBuilder energy simulation software (version 7) to analyze the influence of vegetation-related parameters on building energy consumption. A one-story residential building with an area of 88 m² in Tabriz was selected as the base model. Simulation scenarios were developed for three levels of each variable: plant height (20, 40, and 60 cm), substrate depth (10, 15, and 20 cm), and leaf area index (2.0, 2.7, and 3.4). The plant species selected for this study is Vinca.
Results: The numerical analysis indicated that a leaf area index of 2.0 resulted in superior energy savings compared to the other values. Among the plant height scenarios, the 20 cm height led to the lowest annual energy consumption and demonstrated the most effective thermal performance. Regarding substrate depth, a 20 cm depth was identified as the optimal condition for minimizing total annual energy use.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, in the cold and dry climate of Tabriz, selecting plant species with shorter height, lower leaf area index, and greater substrate depth on green roofs can significantly enhance building energy performance. These results underscore the importance of climate-responsive green roof design in promoting energy efficiency and supporting urban sustainability goals.

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Main Subjects

Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 20 January 2027

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