Shading Effect and Heat Reflection Performance of Green Facade in Hot Humid Climate Area: Measurements of a Residential Project in Guangzhou, China

In response to the problem of high-density urbanism and urban heat island (UHI), vertical greenery system (VGS) applying in building design and construction is regarded as one of the solutions. Green Facade (GF), with the climber plants growing on the building facade, is one branch technology of VGS. This research is focused on the shading effect and the heat reflection performance of the GF in Hot humid Climate Area. A high-rise residential project with the GFs on east and south facade is chosen to measure and analyze. Results reveal that the air Ave. temperature (Temp) shading by the GFs in sunny days is reduced by 0.6 °C (E) and 0.7°C (S), and the Max. reduction is up to 3.2°C (E) and 3.8°C (S). The surface Ave. Temp of GF is reduced 4.7°C comparing to the bare wall, and the Ave. Temp of the whole facade is decreased about 3-4°C with GFs. This research has proved the effects of GFs and also show the GFs' potentials for energy reduction and urban heat environment improvement.