Thermal simulations on the effects of vegetated walls on indoor building environments

A simulation study was undertaken to assess the effects of vegetated walls on the thermal performance of a building. A thermal model of climbing plants was formulated using ECOTECT environmental simulation software and was validated against the data obtained by field measurements. This model was applied to a further simulation study and the results showed that plant cover improved indoor thermal comfort in both summer and winter, and reduced heat gains and losses through the wall structure. This resulted in lower annual energy loads for heating and cooling, and these effects were more significant in the case of plant cover on lightweight buildings.