THE CONTRIBUTION OF A PLANTED ROOF TO THE THERMAL PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS IN GREECE

Planted roofs contribute positively to the improvement of the thermal performance of a building. They block solar radiation, and reduce dail y temperature variations and thermal ranges between winter and summer. In this paper, a calculation has been done, using a stationary method , in order to determine the thermal behaviour of the planted roof and the way it influences the thermal protection of the building, in accor dance with Greek climatic conditions. Planted roof elements with diffe rent heights of plants and different drainage layers are calculated an d a comparison between a ban roof and a planted roof is made. All sect ions are calculated with and without thermal insulation. The results a re illustrated in figures, in which the temperature of the layers of t he planted roof is presented for both winter and summer. The planted r oof contributes to the thermal protection of a building, but does not replace the thermal insulation layer. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.