Impact of green wall orientation on building energy performance in a tropical climate: An experimental assessment

Vertical Greenery Systems, also known as Green Walls have emerged as essential components of Green Infrastructure, offering promising outcomes for both the present and the distant future. This study aimed to establish correlations between orientation and the thermal performance of green walls. The research was conducted in a controlled climatic environment, featuring a bare wall as the control experiment and green walls with four different plant species, including Xiphidium caeruleum , Asparagus aethiopicus , Ophiopogon japonicas , and Dianella ensifolia variegate. The growth medium consisted of a consistent 1:1:1 ratio of coir dust, sand, and compost for all plant species. Data collection, which spanned from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., included parameters: surface temperature, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed for the green wall’s exterior and interior. The results of the study demonstrated that east-oriented green walls, particularly those featuring Asparagus aethiopicus , achieved significant influence on building energy conservation, with a maximum temperature reduction of 4.1 °C in both interior and exterior surface temperatures compared to the bare wall. The findings highlight the potential of optimally oriented green walls to reduce cooling energy consumption in buildings.