Building Envelopes and the Urban Heat Island Effect: A Review of Mitigation Strategies through Advanced Façade and Roofing Materials
Keywords:
Advanced façade materials, Building envelope materials, High albedo materials, Urban heat islandAbstract
The urban heat island effect is a widespread phenomenon impacting cities globally, as it is characterised by higher surface or air temperatures in urban areas compared to rural built environments. The materials used in building façades influence the radiative properties of outdoor spaces, affecting heat retention in walls and heat transfer between a building’s interior and exterior. As a result, the interaction between buildings and their environment extends beyond just solar radiation warming the air or the influence of wind patterns. The outside surface temperature of walls is determined by the characteristics of façades, which also affect the exterior air temperature around the façade. This paper aims to review the relationship between the Urban Heat Island effect and urban material properties on façades and roofs. This study appraises the selected various advanced façade and roofing materials—phase change materials, cool materials, new glass-ceramic materials, retro-reflective material, and green facades in terms of their characteristics, types, and, most significantly, their potential to reduce UHI. This study can also be used by urban planners, designers, and decision-makers to better appreciate the importance of choosing finishing materials, not only for their aesthetic value but also for their substantial impact on the city’s overall microclimate.
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