Abstract:
Due to urbanization, the storage of short wave radiation in the impervious surfaces and
the reduction of cooling service of vegetated areas awing to its depletion leads to an
elevated heat in urban area. Similarly Debre Birhan city rapid urban residential
expansion causes a perceivable air temperature changes which is confirmed with a
meteorological report. Hence, this research aims developing an efficient and
implementable building-green space integration model in a residential unit level to
achieve a Net Zero Micro Climate Change (NZMCC). To set the goal of temperature
reduction the selected residential unit, West Facing (WF) L-tail villa is modeled,
simulated and compared to a Reference Natural Ground (RNG) equal to the unit using
ENVI-met. The peak surface temperature (Ts) in the residential unit is found to be
significantly higher than the RNG which is taken as target Ts to be reduced in the new
green space-building integration model. In contrast, the difference in air temperature
(Ta) between the two is non-significant. Since Ts is the target, shading mechanism is a
more efficient way for reduction. Based on the Ts properties at nine nodes of WF unit,
shade tree geometry is quantified using the equations developed to determine tree and
shadow area, aspect ratio (AR) as well as tree trait and parameter are determined. The
simulation result from green space-building integration model achieve a Ts reduction
of 9.57
o
C which is only 1.16
o
C higher than the peak Ts in RNG. The little inaccuracy
due to time specific shadow geometry design and tree shape can be corrected by slightly
over estimating the required tree geometry and trait. Generally, a quantified green space
which is designed based on space and time can reduce the elevated Ts of a unit residence
to RNG Ts level when appropriately integrated to the unit residence. The effect of air
temperature reduction is projected in a larger area when units come together forming
neighborhoods, districts and urban area. We suggest that unit level surface temperature
reduction using such methodologies is an easy and efficient way of implementing the
urban cooling strategy that can add up and mitigate urban level warming.