Collection of ENEA technology and expertise
Building-integrated Green Infrastructure prototypes: Green Wall, Green Roof, and Green Solar Bioclimatic Greenhouse
Application sectors
Problem to solve
The three Green Infrastructure prototypes for buildings represent natural engineering solutions designed to combat climate change. Specifically, they address the phenomenon of heat islands, exacerbated by the widespread urbanization and cementification of city areas. The intense urban green spaces, expansion has significantly reduced urban compromising natural processes such as shading and evapotranspiration by plants. This last natural phenomenon releases oxygen, reduces CO2, and generate latent cooling that mitigates the heating of surrounding surfaces. The Green Infrastructures in building F92 embody innovative solutions for heat adaptation and energy savings, contributing to summer cooling of indoor environments and enhancing the energy efficiency of buildings, while simultaneously fostering the ecological regeneration of urban areas for the benefit of all citizens.
Description
The prototype building represents a demonstration platform for green walls, green roofs, and a bioclimatic greenhouse, located at the “Scuola delle Energie” (F92) building in the Casaccia Research Center (CR Casaccia). Developed and implemented through the Electric System Research Program (RdS), it aims to promote energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. The building is equipped with a network of sensors that monitor various microclimatic, thermal and environmental parameters. The sensors are strategically distributed at the green roof, green wall, and bioclimatic greenhouse levels, and collect data every hour, which are then stored in a data logger and made available online through a remote database. A specific device for measuring CO2 concentration has been installed to monitor the green wall's CO2 absorption capacity. The sampling system consists of 10 points, each equipped with Licor 830 analyzers and data loggers. The green roof is extensive and features a lawn composed of microthermal plants such as Poa pratensis and Festuca arundinacea, with a smaller part covered by species from the Sedum genus. The vertical green system, anchored to the southeast and southwest facades of the building, is made of a self-supporting steel structure. The plant species that populate this structure include Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Hedera helix, and Trachelospermum jasminoides, which, in addition to enhancing aesthetics, provide benefits such as shading and protection from solar radiation. The bioclimatic greenhouse, designed on a terrace on the building's first floor, has a surface area of 7.5 m² and a volume of 20 m³, with a southwest exposure. In addition to the plants, the greenhouse is equipped with an LED lighting system that stimulates the optimal growth of the plants, helping to reduce heating inside the greenhouse during the summer while improving energy efficiency.
Innovative aspects and advantages
- The F92 demonstration building is unique in its kind, serving as a platform with three technologies/infrastructures (Green Roof, Green Wall, and Bioclimatic Greenhouse), each with its own specific technical characteristics, in a Mediterranean environ
- The bioclimatic greenhouse is a fully original infrastructure that integrates the technical requirements of a "solar capturing greenhouse" to enhance the energy efficiency of the building, with an internal plant system, complete with an automatic irr
- The first microclimatic and thermal measurements of the Green Wall and Green Roof date back to 2016, making them significant examples of long-term experiments (LTE). Over time, the monitoring system has undergone several changes, including the number
- The prototypes of the three Green Infrastructures are all equipped with a microclimatic and thermal monitoring system that continuously records data, which is accessible remotely.
Admissible applications
- Attenuation of air pollution: beyond CO2, plants absorb Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), releasing oxygen. This process improves air quality, contributing to a healthier environment.
- Mitigation of the urban heat island: green surfaces can shield from solar radiation and provide shade, reducing heating and improving the microclimate in cities.
- Reduction of CO2 emissions: decreased energy consumption leads to a reduction in CO2 emissions in the atmosphere; additionally, plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, helping to mitigate climate change.
- Reduction of energy consumption for air conditioning: green covers can thermally insulate buildings, reducing the need for heating in winter and cooling in summer.
- Urban agriculture and biodiversity: green roofs, walls, and bioclimatic greenhouses provide spaces for zero-kilometer urban agriculture, promoting biodiversity and creating green environments and ecological corridors that enrich cities.
Research group involved
Revision date
28-01-2026
Didn't find what you were looking for or would like more information about our partnerships and services?
