Implementation of a Calculation Code for the Energy Modelling of Vertical Greenery Systems

In the deep renovation of buildings, whether public or private, the adoption of resilient technologies is considered crucial to achieve significant improvements in energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Among these, non-traditional solutions are gaining ground, such as Vertical Greenery Systems (VGSs), which include green facades and living walls. The present work aims at implementing a calculation code for the energy modelling of a green facade. The Dynamic Heat Transfer (DHT) model proposed by Y. Zhang et al. has been selected and, through the generation of a calculation code, has been implemented in EnergyPlus by means of a Python plugin. The model was then tested in a BESTest Case from ASHRAE 140/2020, which was adapted to the specific scope of the study. The dynamic simulations results show the benefits of implementing a green facade, notably in reducing the external wall surface temperature and decreasing the building cooling load. These benefits mainly stem from the shading effect and transpiration of the plants.