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Quantifying energy symbiosis of building-integrated agriculture in a mediterranean rooftop greenhouse

Author

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  • Muñoz-Liesa, Joan
  • Royapoor, Mohammad
  • López-Capel, Elisa
  • Cuerva, Eva
  • Rufí-Salís, Martí
  • Gassó-Domingo, Santiago
  • Josa, Alejandro

Abstract

A major concern for sustainable development is urban systems energy consumption. A possible way to gain additional whole system energy efficiencies is to integrate rooftop greenhouses (iRTG) on unoccupied roofs. This work presents actual environmental data (2015–2018) and calibrated energy modelling results to analyze the energy symbiosis between an iRTG and the host building. Simulation results illustrate that annually 98 kWh/m2 of heating energy is passively recovered (84% during night time) from the building by the iRTG. Conversely the iRTG insulating capacity resulted in annual energy saving of 35 kWh/m2 for the host building (equal to 4% of the building’s annual energy needs). When combined an overall 128 kWh/m2 of net energy savings and 45.6 kg CO2 eq/m2 of savings are realised via iRTG. On average, iRTG daytime temperatures can be 5.1 °C warmer (summer) and −4.3 °C cooler (winter) than the building. This presents major potentials for recovery and exchange of heating and cooling energy flows through integrating heating and ventilation air conditioning systems of the building and iRTG. Hence, iRTGs can provide a source of renewable energy as well as a sink for building exhaust air to improve energy efficiencies of urban built environment and urban agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Muñoz-Liesa, Joan & Royapoor, Mohammad & López-Capel, Elisa & Cuerva, Eva & Rufí-Salís, Martí & Gassó-Domingo, Santiago & Josa, Alejandro, 2020. "Quantifying energy symbiosis of building-integrated agriculture in a mediterranean rooftop greenhouse," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 696-709.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:156:y:2020:i:c:p:696-709
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.04.098
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Subin Song & JungHo Jeon & Seonghwan Yoon, 2025. "Optimizing Energy Efficiency and Light Transmission in Greenhouses Using Rotating Low-Emissivity-Coated Envelopes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Moreno, Álex & Chemisana, Daniel & Lamnatou, Chrysovalantou & Maestro, Santiago, 2023. "Energy and photosynthetic performance investigation of a semitransparent photovoltaic rooftop greenhouse for building integration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    4. Drottberger, Annie & Zhang, Yizhi & Yong, Jean Wan Hong & Dubois, Marie-Claude, 2023. "Urban farming with rooftop greenhouses: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    5. Lamnatou, Chr. & Cristofari, C. & Chemisana, D., 2024. "Renewable energy sources as a catalyst for energy transition: Technological innovations and an example of the energy transition in France," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    6. Uk-Hyeon Yeo & Sang-Yeon Lee & Se-Jun Park & Jun-Gyu Kim & Jeong-Hwa Cho & Cristina Decano-Valentin & Rack-Woo Kim & In-Bok Lee, 2022. "Rooftop Greenhouse: (2) Analysis of Thermal Energy Loads of a Building-Integrated Rooftop Greenhouse (BiRTG) for Urban Agriculture," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-26, May.
    7. Yang, Junqin & Zhao, Hui & Li, Chenchen & Li, Xiuwei, 2021. "A direct energy reuse strategy for absorption air-conditioning system based on electrode regeneration method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 353-364.

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