The use of green walls in sustainable urban context: With reference to Dubai, UAE

The impact of urban development on the natural environment generates unique challenges to architects and engineers seeking passive design strategies in hot and humid climates such as those in Dubai. They are collaborating to design new buildings that are energy efficient, environmentally friendly, and architecturally significant. Passive cooling design techniques, which are recognized mainly in the old Dubai, are energy efficient and can be considered as a good alternative to mechanical cooling systems. Green roofs and façades are passive techniques and add more benefits not only for reducing the energy demand of buildings, but also for providing environmental benefits, including visual relief, accessible green space, and improving air quality. In recent years, greening systems have been practised in many hot cities, including greening directly on to roofs and walls, greening the cavity between walls, and incorporating greening systems within the construction of the wall. Green roofs are frequently used in cities like Dubai; however, practising green wall technology is still new despite its great benefits. Based on the climatic condition of Dubai, this paper attempts to reduce energy consumption in buildings by adopting passive cooling strategies in the sustainable urban context of Dubai. The growing interest in incorporating vegetated green walls into sustainable building is highlighted. To achieve the aim of the study, the following objectives have been covered: to investigate the use of passive cooling strategies in Dubai; to enhance the energy performance by reducing the cooling loads and therefore identifying the optimal parameters for building skins; and to draw guidelines for architects, planners and developers to demonstrate the potential benefits of green wall technology. In this context various issues, including the urban development of Dubai, sustainability, passive cooling techniques, and the performance of green walls, are to be considered.