Investigation of Thermal and Energy Performance of Green Roofs in Florida Climate

Buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of energy consumption in the United States. Utilizing efficient methods for reduction in energy consumption by buildings is of great importance. Green roofs have been known as an effective approach to reduce building energy usage (associated with cooling and heating load) as well as providing environmental benefits. In the present paper, a mathematical model is developed in MATLAB considering several aspects of green roofs. The model is validated using available data from previous experimental research studies. A simulation is conducted to assess the performance of green roofs in Melbourne, FL. The study includes calculation of the energy savings associated with using a green roof in summer months and winter months.