The potential of green roof strategies for reducing CO2 emissions and energy use in Moroccan office buildings

Green roofs are increasingly recognized as a sustainable strategy for mitigating energy consumption and reducing CO2 emissions in buildings. This study evaluates the potential of green roofs in Moroccan office buildings across six climatic zones, focusing on three critical design parameters: Leaf Ar...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Abdessamad Idouanaou, Mustapha Malha, Abdellah Bah, Saïd Kardellass
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-07-01
Series:Green Technologies and Sustainability
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949736125000119
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Green roofs are increasingly recognized as a sustainable strategy for mitigating energy consumption and reducing CO2 emissions in buildings. This study evaluates the potential of green roofs in Moroccan office buildings across six climatic zones, focusing on three critical design parameters: Leaf Area Index (LAI), plant height, and minimum stomatal resistance (MSR). Through simulations conducted using EnergyPlus, the results reveal significant energy-saving potential, particularly in hotter zones, where cooling demand is dominant. Taller plants and higher LAI values enhance shading and evapotranspiration, reducing cooling energy use by up to 4.75%, but they also increase heating energy requirements during cooler months by up to 20.23%. The findings underscore the need for region-specific optimization, including strategies like seasonal plant height adjustment and LAI selection, to balance cooling benefits and heating trade-offs. By providing insights into the thermal and environmental performance of green roofs, this research contributes to the development of practical design guidelines for integrating sustainable building practices into Morocco’s growing urban landscape.
ISSN:2949-7361