LAUSR

Abstract Green facade systems are part of urban green technologies and can be applied in the building facade to improve building thermal performance. Three experimental studies were conducted in tropical country to explore the effect of green facade systems to building thermal comfort. In this study, three types of green facade systems with different leaves coverage area were attached on the facade of scaled building model. Field measurements were conducted in three days during December. Psychrometric and effective temperature chart were used to calculate the effective temperature. Generally, greater temperature differences from bare wall model were more visible than green facade with greater leaves coverage area from 1.9 °C to 9.9 °C. The result of the analysis also revealed that the model with green facade had less frequency distribution of high temperatures and never exceeded 26 °C. However, the average of relative humidity inside the building increased up to 72.5% due to evapotranspiration and effected indoor thermal comfort. In addition, the results showed that the trend of Te on the model with greater leaves coverage area was higher by 1.14 °C compared to bare wall model. While, the frequency distribution of high Te exceeded from 25.1 °C occured up to 48%. Finally, even though green facade can decrease temperature on the building, yet it also increases relative humidity and possibility creates uncomfortable indoor thermal comfort.