Title: Greening the Hill: Analyzing Illuminance and Temperature on the FedEx Global Education Center’s Green Roofs (2023)

Undergraduates: Claudia Sandoval, Sarah Dean, Brenda Palacios Rodriguez, Brooke Kongmany

Faculty Advisor: Antonia Sebastian
Department: E3P

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Extreme heat events are becoming pertinent concerns worldwide as climate change worsens. Heat-related morbidity and mortality are projected to increase as climate conditions continue to change. The urban heat island effect posits that urban areas are warmer than surrounding rural areas due to urbanization and human activity. As urbanization continues, it will be critical to understand the urban heat island effect and create solutions to adapt to warming in affected areas. One potential strategy for mitigation is green architecture. Green roofs are a component of green architecture that mitigate heat hazards in highly urbanized areas. The heat reduction performance of extensive green roofs is well documented, but studies disagree over how performance is affected by thickness, thermal characteristics of the vegetative roof, and insulation, as these affect corresponding transfer of heat to the building (Santamouris, 2014). This study aims to address the heat performance of the FedEx Global Education Center’s green roofs from February to April using temperature and illuminance sensors to measure the ambient air temperature directly on the roof. Our preliminary results suggest the insulation of the roof to building reduces the performance of actual heat reduction on the roof compared to the greater Chapel Hill area.

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