Modular system design for vegetated surfaces: a proposal for energy-efficient b...

• Author(s): Manso, Maria ; Castro-Gomes, J. ; Silva, Pedro D. ; Virtudes, Ana Lídia ; Delgado, F.M.G.
• Date: 2013
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.11/2037
• Origin: Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco
• Subject(s): Modular system; Vegetated surfaces; Recycled materials; Endemic vegetation; Passive design
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

http://issuu.com/maria_manso/docs/bess-sb13-paper-01-revised?workerAddress=ec2-23-22-93-32.compute-1.amazonaws.com Buildings represent 40 % of total energy consumption in the European Union (EU). So it is peremptory to reduce the EU energy dependency and greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU (EPBD) requires that by 2020 all new buildings must be nearly “zero-energy buildings”. This document also evidences the importance to use passive design solutions adapted to local climate conditions, in order to minimize the heating or cooling energy needs in buildings. As result from an on-going research project (GEOGREEN) is presented the concept of a modular system for vegetated surfaces in new or retrofitted buildings. It is designed to be demountable and adaptable to different surfaces and inclinations, allowing the creation of vegetated surfaces simultaneously in roofs, walls and other building elements. The modular system materials were selected to minimize the embodied energy and CO2 emission. It is based on the recovery of mine wasting materials to develop alkaline activated binders (geopolymers), combining natural materials with the insertion of endemic vegetation resistant to dry mesomediterranean conditions. In order to evaluate the thermal and energy performance of this solution, a cell test infrastructure will be installed at the University of Beira Interior facilities to perform real climate studies.