The effects of tall building envelopes on urban microclimate are enormous, as tall buildings cast many shadows on the other buildings and streets, the use of green walls and roofs affects the microclimate air temperature, the highly glazed buildings facades can flash brilliant reflections, tall buildings in different orientation can block or channel the wind creating artificial wind patterns, and the massive amount of concrete and pavements contribute to the urban heat island. This paper is directed to the study of various tall building envelope technologies and design strategies and their influence on the hot arid urban microclimate. The effects of coating materials with high and low albedo on the air temperature, surface temperature and urban heat island, the tall buildings large scale have a significant influence on the urban microclimate due to the large mass of concrete, glass and steel used in tall building envelope; these cause the so called urban heat island. On the other hand, some technologies and design strategies have a positive influence on the urban microclimates, like: the use of green walls and roofs, shading elements, self shading and orientation. It's found that these could decrease the urban heat island in hot arid climate

Conference Title

CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Conference Country

Italy

Conference Date

March 26, 2009 - March 27, 2009

Conference Sponsor

Politecnico di Milano Department of Building Environment Science and Technology