PSU SEDI Global Building Network- Design of a Cost Effective Vertical Greenery System Suitable for Warm Humid Climate

Overview

The Penn State SEDI Global Building Network is an organization that facilitates evidence-to-action through global partnerships and network-to-network connections to accelerate the decarbonization of the built environment at scale through interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach. Dr. Esther Obonyo is the executive director the organization and the point of contact for this project. the team was tasked with designing and creating a passive living wall that improves indoor thermal comfort for low-income urban dwellers in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

Objectives

Gain full understanding of the problem through research provided by the sponsor
Construct a scaled-down prototype for a vertical greenery façade that will facilitate passive interior cooling in the buildings of Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania

Approach

Gather customer needs from sponsor.
Generate multiple concepts based on existing models and patents and incorporate elements from multiple designs when finalizing our own design.
Use Design Builder, Revit, and SolidWorks to create a thermal simulation for checking the feasibility of our proposed solution.
Create a prototype using wood and PVC piping for demonstration and testing purposes. Use Pothos plants and spider plants as they have high leaf coverage.
Test the prototype by placing the prototype in front of an artificially constructed wall and using heat lamps to simulate real-life conditions.
Analyze and compare temperature difference between using the prototype and just the wall.

Outcomes

Developed a prototype for a vertical greenery façade that effectively facilitates passive interior cooling.
Testing revealed a 10 ˚F reduction in temperature when the prototype was used which was compliant with customer needs.