Application of green roof for increasing the energy efficiency of the existing building in Belgrade

Abstract

This paper presents the analysis of the potential use of green roofs to enhance the energy efficiency of the residential buildings. Namely, in urban areas, there is a lot of potential for reducing the energy needed for heating and cooling in the existing buildings. Thus, in developed countries, green roofs are recognized as one of the important tools for energy savings, but also in accomplishing environmental protection and raising the quality of life. Current regulation in the Republic of Serbia does not adequately demonstrate the effects of contemporary measures of energy efficiency improvement in buildings. This paper provides an analysis of the possible improvement of energy efficiency by various green roof application models. The aim of this investigation is to generate affirmation of the green roof projects by pointing out the financial benefits and other implications that are significant for sustainable development. The existing building in the center of Belgrade with a flat roof is used as the model for parametric analysis. The key indicator of the investment profitability in this investigation was the energy needed for heating and cooling. Besides the economic impact, other aspects of green roof application are highlighted as well. Numerical analysis is performed for the apartment under a flat roof for three different models of renovation. The values of the reduction of the annual energy need for heating and cooling are compared. The economic profitability analysis considered the life cycle profit analysis for all analyzed cases. The obtained results indicate the benefits of using green roofs at both, the individual and the public levels.