DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE WORK HERE.
The Chair of Urban Energy Transition at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) is delighted to share an innovative breakthrough in research into sustainable solutions for urban energy transition. The article entitled ‘How green can it be? A methodology for calculating green roof retrofit potential in Valencia’ was recently published in the scientific journal Energy & Buildings. This work is a collaboration between prominent UPV researchers:
- Carla Montagud-Montalvá, Director of the Chair of Urban Energy Transition.
- Tomás Gómez-Navarro, Director of the Institute of Electrical Engineering.
- Paula Bastida-Molina, Researcher in Renewable Energy and Advanced Energy Systems at the UPV’s University Institute for Energy Engineering Research.
- Max Zayas-Orihuela, UPV Researcher.
The study introduces a methodology for evaluating the potential for adapting green roofs in urban areas, combining technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and artificial vision algorithms. This approach makes it possible to identify the most suitable roofs for installing vegetation, estimate their energy benefits and quantify their capacity to capture carbon.
Main findings:
- Analysis of the case study in Valencia: The neighbourhood of L’Illa Perduda was used as a model. The results indicate that approximately 50% of the surface area of the roofs in the neighbourhood could be converted into green roofs, which translates into an absorption of up to 350 tonnes of CO2 per year and a reduction of an additional 100 tonnes of emissions related to energy consumption.
- Multidimensional benefits:
- Environmental: Green roofs reduce carbon emissions, stabilise temperatures and mitigate the urban heat island effect.
- Energy: They improve the thermal insulation of buildings, reducing the need for air conditioning systems.
- Social and aesthetic: They contribute to the psychological well-being of the inhabitants and increase urban biodiversity.
- Replicable methodology: The model combines cadastral data, LiDAR maps and aerial image analysis, allowing for an accurate assessment of potential areas for green roofs. This approach can be adapted to other cities in Europe and the world.
Contribution to urban decarbonisation
This study not only reinforces Valencia’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2040, as part of the European Union’s ‘Smart and Carbon-Neutral Cities’ mission, but also serves as an example of innovation applied to global challenges.
We invite urban planners, policy makers and academics to explore this article and consider how these solutions can be integrated into their own urban contexts. The full article is available here.
