A green experiment conducted in the tropical climate

Abstract

Plants are the intervention between buildings and climate since they can benefit buildings by modifying the micro-climate. The foliage density of plants, or more accurately the Leaf Area Index (LAI), is the key to govern the magnitude of such intervention at the micro-level. In order to uncover the interrelationship between LAI values and the surrounding climatic parameters, an experiment has been carried out in Singapore. A horizontal setting and a vertical setting have been set up to simulate the introduction of greenery on roofs and building facades. Plants with different LAI values were measured at the two settings. The interrelationship between LAI values and climatic parameters has been defined by regressions which are derived from the experimental data. A new concept, green sol-air temperature, was developed based on the empirical data. The possible thermal benefits of plants placed around buildings were estimated by the new concept finally.