Ahorro energético residencial en ciudades de zonas áridas: Incorporación de cubiertas vegetadas como estrategias ambientalmente eficientes.

The adoption of non-traditional green structures in arid cities -new technologies such as green roofs and green walls- constitutes an strategies that controls the indoor high temperatures in summer at building scale, and mitigates the urban heat island at urban scale. This work evaluates the effect of green roofs with adapted species to water deficit -Aptenia cordifolia and Sedum spectabile- on the thermal efficiency of indoor spaces. The thermal performance during summer and winter has monitored in experimental boxes. The results indicate that in the green roofs, indoor summer temperature decreases 1,6 °C, this generate an energy saving for refrigeration of 30 to 35%. In winter, diurnal energy saving of 2-4% is observed. This data indicate that the design of these new technologies should be assessed at local level to maximize energy efficiency and ensure urban-building sustainability.