Au cours de notre ère dite « Anthropocène » et caractérisée par l’urbanisation, la biodiversité est fortement contrainte. Il s’agit d’un problème important car elle est considérée comme le principal moteur du fonctionnement des écosystèmes et comme une source de services écosystémiques. Les toits verts sont un exemple de nouveaux écosystèmes au sein de l’environnement urbain. Ils constituent de nouveaux habitats et peuvent alors limiter la perte de biodiversité en ville. Ils offrent de plus d’autres services écosystémiques comme la régulation thermique, la gestion des eaux pluviales, ainsi qu’une certaine valeur esthétique. Dans cette thèse, nous mettrons notamment l’accent sur les toits verts dit "extensifs" (profondeur du substrat < 20 cm) car ils ont une gamme d'applications plus large et sont plus durables (car autonomes et nécessitant donc moins de maintenance).Dans l’Europe du Sud (région Méditerranéen), les performances des toits verts extensifs sont plutôt faibles, probablement à cause de l'effet des fortes températures et de la sécheresse estivale. On peut même s’attendre à une augmentation du niveau de stress des végétaux des toits verts à cause du changement climatique. La mise en place de systèmes d’irrigation pourrait alors aider en favorisant la croissance des plantes et leur survie. Cependant, cet aménagement est souvent perçu comme une option non soutenable car l'accès à l’eau est limité en région méditerranéenne. Au cours de la période estivale, la pénurie d’eau sera de plus encore plus grave du fait du changement climatique. Par conséquent, une augmentation du nombre de recherches menées sur ce sujet est nécessaire afin de sélectionner les espèces végétales les plus adaptées aux toits verts extensifs non irrigués. Il est également nécessaire d’adapter les éléments structurels des toits extensifs pour mieux répondre aux exigences de ces plantes. Pour les pays plus au nord, avec des climats plus froids (par exemple en climat tempéré maritime), les scénarios de changements climatiques prévoient également une augmentation des températures et des précipitations plus erratiques. Les entreprises de toits végétalisés dans ces régions bénéficieront donc également des résultats d’une telle recherche.L’objectif principal de cette thèse était d’élaborer et de tester un nouveau concept pour la réalisation de toits verts extensifs, comprenant notamment la sélection de la végétation et des éléments de structure (substrat). Le travail est basé sur l’hypothèse de « l’habitat modèle », qui énonce qu’il faut cibler les habitats naturels possédant des caractéristiques similaires aux toits verts extensifs afin de trouver des espèces végétales les plus appropriées. La biodiversité en région Méditerranéenne est très riche et il y a plusieurs habitats qui ressemblent plus au moins aux conditions des toits verts extensifs (sols calcaires et superficielles, drainage rapide, pauvreté en nutriments, fluctuations de température, vents forts). Notre hypothèse est alors qu’il serait possible de trouver des plantes possédant des potentiels pour être introduites sur des toits verts extensifs. Parce que la région Méditerranéenne est très étendue, le sud de la France a été sélectionné comme région d’études. Nous concluons que la végétation méditerranéenne peut être une source d'inspiration pour le développement et l’amélioration de la conception des toits verts extensifs, que ce soit pour le climat méditerranéen actuel ou pour d’autres climats sous l'effet futur des changements climatiques prévus. Un choix de plantes appropriées est alors essentiel, ainsi que la conception en termes de techniques d’irrigation durable, de profondeur et composition du substrat et aussi des possibilités de rétention de l’eau. De plus, il existe encore de nombreuses voies pour la réalisation de recherches supplémentaires qui contribueront à la mise en place de toits verts avec une biodiversité plus importante. / In an era of urbanization, biodiversity is under pressure more than ever. Biodiversity is considered a major driver of ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services. Green roofs, a prime example of urban novel ecosystems, offer habitats and can hence mitigate some biodiversity loss in cities. Apart from biodiversity, green roofs also offer other ecosystem services, such as thermal regulation, stormwater management, and aesthetic and amenity value. Here we focused on extensive green roofs (substrate depth < 20 cm) as these can be applied widely and are more durable (i.e. less maintenance, self-sustaining). In southern Europe (Mediterranean), the performance of (extensive) green roofs is rather low, probably due to the elevated temperatures and summer drought. One may expect that plant stress on green roofs will further increase as a result of climate change. Irrigation could help plant growth and survival. However, irrigation is often perceived as an unsustainable practice, as water is already a limiting factor in many regions and climate change will lead to an even more severe water scarcity during summer. Therefore, research is needed to select plant species suitable for Mediterranean (unirrigated) extensive green roofs, and to adapt green roof design to meet the requirements of the selected plant species. More northern countries with colder climates (e.g. temperate maritime climate) will also face higher temperatures and erratic precipitation events as a result of climate change. The green roof industries located in these regions will hence also benefit from the outcome of such research. The main goal of this thesis was to elaborate and test a new concept for extensive green roof design, comprising both plant selection and design elements. The work is based on the habitat template theory, which states that natural habitats with similar characteristics as extensive green roofs should be targeted when searching for suitable plant species. Mediterranean regions are a hotspot of biodiversity and contain many habitats that match to some extent the conditions on extensive green roofs (e.g. shallow, free draining, nutrient poor and calcareous soils, high temperature fluctuations, windy). We hence hypothesized that it would be possible to find potential plant species for use on extensive green roofs. Because of practical reasons we selected the southern part of France as study region. At the end of this thesis, we conclude that natural habitats in the Mediterranean region can definitely inspire us as a source for development and improvement of extensive green roof design, whether this is for the current Mediterranean climate itself or for other climates under predicted climate change. Appropriate vegetation choice is essential, as well as the design in terms of sustainable irrigation techniques, appropriate substrate depth and composition, and water retention possibilities. Finally suggestions for further research were made.

As the numbers of installed greenroofs continue to grow internationally, designing greenroof growing media to reduce the amount of nutrients in the stormwater runoff is becoming essential. Biochar, a carbon-net-negative soil amendment, has been promoted for its ability to retain nutrients in soils and increase soil fertility. This study evaluated the effect on water quality of greenroof runoff after adding biochar to a typical extensive greenroof soil. Prototype greenroof trays with and without 7% biochar (by weight) were planted with sedum or ryegrass, with barren soil trays for controls. The greenroof trays were subjected to two sequential 2.9 in/hr rainfall events using a rainfall simulator. Runoff from the rainfall events was collected and evaluated for total nitrogen, total phosphorus, nitrate, phosphate, total organic carbon, and inorganic carbon. Greenroof trays containing biochar showed lower quantities of nutrients in the stormwater runoff compared to trays without biochar. Biochar-amended soil with and without plants showed a 3- to 25-fold decrease in release of nitrate and total nitrogen concentrations, as well as a decrease in phosphate and total phosphorus concentrations release into the rainfall runoff. Phosphorus results from trays planted with sedum indicate that sedum interacted with both soils to cause a decrease of phosphorus in the greenroof runoff. In correlation with a visual effect in turbidity, biochar-amended soil showed a reduction of total organic carbon in the runoff by a factor of 3 to 4 for all soil and plant trays. Inorganic carbon was similar for all tests showing that inorganic carbon neither reacted with, nor was retained by, biochar in the soil. The addition of biochar to greenroof soil is an effective way to retain nutrients in a greenroof soil, reduce future fertilizer demands, and improve the water quality of the stormwater runoff by reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and total organic carbon concentrations in the runoff water.

Ozone in indoor environments can pose a health risk to human occupants; around half of exposure to this pollutant occurs inside buildings. One approach to reducing indoor O3 levels is to mitigate O3 as it enters a building via outdoor air ventilation supply. Often, mechanical systems that introduce outdoor air into buildings are placed on building rooftops. At the urban scale, greenery has been shown to reduce levels of some harmful pollutants, including ozone and cities like Portland, OR, are mandating green roofs be built on large commercial buildings to increase urban green surfaces. We investigate if rooftop vegetation may act as a sink for O3 as transport occurs across a green roof. It is known that O3 can react with vegetated surfaces and the ground but there is scant empirical research on said pollutant dynamics on vegetated green roofs, and little data concerning pollutant interactions occurring on other rooftop designs. Essentially unstudied is the potential of rooftop designs to affect local concentrations of pollutants where building outdoor air supply may be co-located. In this study, we investigate O3 dry deposition using resistance uptake theory in an area that includes a green roof on a local big box retail store through a field study conducted during a two-week period in the Summer of 2017. Deposition velocities and subsequently surface resistances were measured. The 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles for resistances were 54.8 s/m, 195.3 s/m, and 3692.9 s/m respectively. A 2-D advection-diffusion model of rooftop deposition is employed to describe transport across the green roof and sensitivity analysis was performed to compare the impact of different parameters. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the fetch length and the vegetation height had the biggest impact, followed by the meteorological parameters; the friction velocity and heat flux. The surface resistance had the least impact on deposition. An ideal case was used to demonstrate that even when conditions are maximized for deposition, the impact on the concentration gradient is minimal at best.

As Hong Kong is famous for its image of leading international financial metropolis, many high-rise office buildings are confined inside some developed commercial districts of Hong Kong. A place for provision of greenery in such districts seems impracticable. However, greenery can exist in forms of green roof onto office buildings, it seems a practical way to embellish this concrete city. Academic studies from other countries have proven that having green roof onto buildings is able to bring numerous psychological benefits to the building occupants, but is this fact still true for office building occupants of Hong Kong? Besides, what do office building occupants think about the presence of green roof onto the building they are working inside? In this study we would like to explore the perceptions of office building occupants in Hong Kong toward green roof, as well as their mode of green roof usage in case green roof is present. The opinions on how office building occupants get satisfied with the green roof they have visited during their working time may give us a glance to the direction of green roof development in the future. What they expect on green roof is the best source of evidence in designing an optimal green roof on human-based consideration. Study result features that green roof on office building can provide a decent leisure place to occupants for relaxation, although they seem do not treat green roof as a vital place where they must go. Office building occupants are generally satisfied with green roof having appropriate provisions such as large variety of vegetation, attractive appearance and good management level. Some crucial characteristics of green roof have been identified in the viewpoints of office building occupants such as its aesthetic nature and location for convenient access. In considering the numerous benefits of green roof, every visitor, as office building occupants, agrees that green roof should be present for their needs. It gives positive and supportive evidence as incentive to the industry and developers for future green roof development. / published_or_final_version / Housing Management / Master / Master of Housing Management

Stormwater management is an essential aspect of urban hydrology. Urbanized areas have large amounts of impervious surface cover (ISC) and well developed sewer and drainage networks which rapidly channel water and pollutants off of streets and into local streams. This research evaluates the use of vegetated roofs as mechanisms to reduce ISC and stormwater runoff in downtown Atlanta. A 3-D model of the study site was created so that runoff rates could be measured for various rooftop scenarios under different size storm events. The results revealed a reduction in peak runoff and an increase in both the lag time and duration of response time. The results were most significant for the smallest storm event with 2/3 of the rooftops vegetated. As these experiments use a scale model for a section of downtown Atlanta, results are likely to be applicable to similar urban environments and may provide guidance for stormwater engineers.

Os processos tradicionais de produção na indústria da construção civil estão entre os maiores causadores de impactos ambientais ao planeta. A transformação do ambiente natural em ambiente construído consome consideráveis volumes de recursos naturais não-renováveis, e gera também consideráveis volumes de resíduos. Pesquisas recentes, nacionais e internacionais, têm buscado alternativas construtivas que minimizem esses aspectos negativos, identificando sistemas e técnicas construtivas que diminuam o consumo destes recursos, e que prolonguem o tempo de vida útil dos materiais. As coberturas vivas representam uma opção que, juntamente com outras técnicas, possibilitam uma mudança de paradigmas projetuais. Estas coberturas são uma alternativa construtiva que oferece a possibilidade de utilização de materiais locais, apresentam comprovados benefícios térmicos e acústicos. A possibilidade de utilização de coberturas vivas nas cidades pode promover, também, ganhos na umidificação e filtragem de partículas do ar, e na suavização de um meio térmico fortemente aquecido, sobretudo onde se encontram grandes aglomerações edificadas. A bibliografia existente sobre o assunto é, em sua maioria, estrangeira. O emprego de coberturas vivas em edificações ainda é bastante incipiente no Brasil, o que gera poucos registros de exemplares para pesquisas. Por outro lado, o pouco registro de pesquisas científicas sobre essa tecnologia no Brasil também dificulta sua divulgação e maior utilização, havendo ainda muitos mitos sobre o assunto. Sendo assim, as questões técnicas de desempenho ao longo dos anos e a adaptação às variações climáticas em locais com climas sub-tropicais, como é o caso de Porto Alegre, ainda são raras para quem procura informações sobre o assunto. O trabalho pretende contribuir para verificar a possibilidade de utilização de coberturas vivas na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre e Serra Gaúcha, levantando, registrando e analisando os exemplares existentes. Analisa, também, os benefícios percebidos por profissionais e usuários com seu uso, assim como os cuidados necessários à sua construção e manutenção nestes locais. / The tradicional production processes in the civil construction industry are among the greatest environmental impact causers in the planet. The transformation of the natural environment into the built environment consumes considerable amouts of non-renewable natural resorces and also generates a great volume of residue. Recent national and international researches have looked for constructive alteratives which could minimize these negative aspects, identifying constructive systems and technics that could diminish these resorces consumtion and lengthen the materials life time. The living roofs represent and option which, along with other technics, provide a change in the projectual paradigms. These roofs are a constructive alternative that offers the posibility of use of local materials, presents proved thermic and acoustic benefits. The possibility of use of living roofs in the cities can also promote gains in the humidification and filtrage of air particules and in the smoothening of a highly warmed thermic surface, specially where there are large built getherings. The existing bibliography about the subject is, mostly, foreign. The applying of living roofs on buildings is still incipient in Brazil, what generates few research sample records. Yet, the few records of cientific research about this technology in Brazil also makes it difficult to be disclosed and to increase its use while there are still a lot of miths about the subject. Therefore, the performance technical issues along the years and the adaptation to climate variations in sub-tropical environments , which is the case of Porto Alegre, are still rare to the ones who search for data about the subject. The study intends to contribute to verification of the living roofs applicability in the metropolitan área of Porto Alegre and in the gaúcha high-lands, retrieving data, registering and analizing the existing samples. It also analizes the benefits recognized by professionals and users, as well as the necessary concerns towards their construction en manteinnance in these places.

The knowledge of energy transfers between vegetated surface and the atmosphere is of great importance to characterize the local microclimate and identify interactions between environmental variables and vegetation. In Brazil, the research related to energy balance are restricted to forests and monocultures, leaving aside other vegetable surfaces as is the case of green roofs (TVs). In this sense, this paper presents an analysis of the energy balance on a TV, the extensive type, considering the input and output components of energy in this system. To achieve this objective, a field study was conducted in the experimental TV of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM). The monitoring data were used in an energy balance model. The model considered the radiation balance, or power available, and even three different heat flows: latent, by conduction and convection. These flows were determined by monitoring the following variables: temperature of the plant and soil, air temperature, temperature of the internal environment of the TV, global solar radiation and reflected, and wind speed. These data were obtained from sensors installed on the roof and / or by meteorological station located at UFSM. This monitoring was carried out in two stages: August 2015 to December 2015, from 8h to 17h, with manual equipment; and from January to May 2016, 24 hours a day with automatic sensors. The energy balance of the TV and its components were determined for the time interval (hour), and the analysis was extended to the months of monitoring. The results showed that the available energy used in heat flows came from the short-wave radiation during the day, and long wave at night. This net energy available prioritized the latent heat flux (12%), mainly responsible for evapotranspiration, confirming that this is the predominant form of heat dissipation absorbed in TVs, as cited in other studies. Also, it was observed, on average, about 5% of the radiation is intended to balance heat flow by convection, and thus it was found that 17% of the incident energy available and returns to atmosphere. The energy that is transferred into the building (by conduction heat flux), this amounted on average 4% net radiation. The remaining, 79%, was retained in the cover system, showing the efficiency of the TVs as the energy storage and attenuation of temperature. It was also found that there exists an energy imbalance in this system, which is mainly influenced by the type of surface coverage and the particularities experiment. So, from the above, this study concluded that the methodology applied is satisfactory to reach the desired goal, and the experimental TV as the overall result of the energy balance, which showed positive values for the months analyzed, is gaining and retaining more energy than losing. / O conhecimento das trocas de energia entre uma superfície vegetada e a atmosfera é de grande importância para caracterizar o microclima local e identificar interações entre variáveis ambientais e a vegetação. No Brasil, as pesquisas relacionadas ao balanço de energia estão restritas a florestas e monoculturas, deixando de lado outras superfícies vegetais como é o caso dos telhados verdes (TVs). Neste sentido, o presente trabalho apresenta uma análise do balanço energético em um TV, do tipo extensivo, considerando os componentes de entrada e saída de energia neste sistema. Para alcançar este objetivo, um estudo de campo foi realizado no TV experimental da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM). Os dados do monitoramento foram utilizados em um modelo de balanço de energia. O modelo utilizado considerou o saldo de radiação, ou energia disponível, e ainda três diferentes fluxos de calor: latente, por condução e por convecção. Estes fluxos foram determinados a partir do monitoramento das seguintes variáveis: temperatura da planta e solo, temperatura do ar, temperatura do ambiente interno do TV, radiação solar global incidente e refletida, e velocidade do vento. Estes dados foram obtidos com sensores instalados no telhado e/ou por meio da estação climatológica localizada na UFSM. Esse monitoramento foi realizado em duas etapas: de agosto de 2015 a dezembro de 2015, das 8h às 17h, contando com equipamentos manuais; e de janeiro a maio de 2016, 24h por dia, com sensores automáticos. O balanço de energia do TV e seus componentes foram determinados para o intervalo de tempo horário, e a análise foi estendida para os meses de monitoramento. Os resultados mostraram que a energia disponível utilizada nos fluxos de calor foi proveniente da radiação de onda curta, no período diurno, e de onda longa no período noturno. Essa energia líquida disponível priorizou o fluxo de calor latente (56%), principal responsável pela evapotranspiração, confirmando que esta é a forma predominante de dissipação do calor absorvido nos TVs, como citado em outros estudos. Ainda foi observado que, em média, aproximadamente 23% do saldo de radiação é destinado ao fluxo de calor por convecção, e com isso verificou-se que 79% da energia incidente e disponível retorna para a atmosfera. Quanto à energia que é transferida para o interior da edificação (fluxo de calor por condução), esta totalizou em média 1% do saldo de radiação. O restante, 20%, ficou retido no sistema de cobertura, demostrando a eficiência dos TVs quanto ao armazenamento de energia e atenuação da temperatura. Constatou-se também que existe um desequilíbrio energético neste sistema, o qual é influenciado principalmente pelo tipo de cobertura da superfície e particularidades do experimento. Portanto, a partir do exposto, a presente pesquisa permitiu concluir que a metodologia aplicada é satisfatória para se chegar ao objetivo pretendido, e que o TV experimental, conforme o resultado total do balanço de energia, que apresentou valores positivos para os meses analisados, está ganhando e retendo mais energia do que perdendo.

Os processos tradicionais de produção na indústria da construção civil estão entre os maiores causadores de impactos ambientais ao planeta. A transformação do ambiente natural em ambiente construído consome consideráveis volumes de recursos naturais não-renováveis, e gera também consideráveis volumes de resíduos. Pesquisas recentes, nacionais e internacionais, têm buscado alternativas construtivas que minimizem esses aspectos negativos, identificando sistemas e técnicas construtivas que diminuam o consumo destes recursos, e que prolonguem o tempo de vida útil dos materiais. As coberturas vivas representam uma opção que, juntamente com outras técnicas, possibilitam uma mudança de paradigmas projetuais. Estas coberturas são uma alternativa construtiva que oferece a possibilidade de utilização de materiais locais, apresentam comprovados benefícios térmicos e acústicos. A possibilidade de utilização de coberturas vivas nas cidades pode promover, também, ganhos na umidificação e filtragem de partículas do ar, e na suavização de um meio térmico fortemente aquecido, sobretudo onde se encontram grandes aglomerações edificadas. A bibliografia existente sobre o assunto é, em sua maioria, estrangeira. O emprego de coberturas vivas em edificações ainda é bastante incipiente no Brasil, o que gera poucos registros de exemplares para pesquisas. Por outro lado, o pouco registro de pesquisas científicas sobre essa tecnologia no Brasil também dificulta sua divulgação e maior utilização, havendo ainda muitos mitos sobre o assunto. Sendo assim, as questões técnicas de desempenho ao longo dos anos e a adaptação às variações climáticas em locais com climas sub-tropicais, como é o caso de Porto Alegre, ainda são raras para quem procura informações sobre o assunto. O trabalho pretende contribuir para verificar a possibilidade de utilização de coberturas vivas na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre e Serra Gaúcha, levantando, registrando e analisando os exemplares existentes. Analisa, também, os benefícios percebidos por profissionais e usuários com seu uso, assim como os cuidados necessários à sua construção e manutenção nestes locais. / The tradicional production processes in the civil construction industry are among the greatest environmental impact causers in the planet. The transformation of the natural environment into the built environment consumes considerable amouts of non-renewable natural resorces and also generates a great volume of residue. Recent national and international researches have looked for constructive alteratives which could minimize these negative aspects, identifying constructive systems and technics that could diminish these resorces consumtion and lengthen the materials life time. The living roofs represent and option which, along with other technics, provide a change in the projectual paradigms. These roofs are a constructive alternative that offers the posibility of use of local materials, presents proved thermic and acoustic benefits. The possibility of use of living roofs in the cities can also promote gains in the humidification and filtrage of air particules and in the smoothening of a highly warmed thermic surface, specially where there are large built getherings. The existing bibliography about the subject is, mostly, foreign. The applying of living roofs on buildings is still incipient in Brazil, what generates few research sample records. Yet, the few records of cientific research about this technology in Brazil also makes it difficult to be disclosed and to increase its use while there are still a lot of miths about the subject. Therefore, the performance technical issues along the years and the adaptation to climate variations in sub-tropical environments , which is the case of Porto Alegre, are still rare to the ones who search for data about the subject. The study intends to contribute to verification of the living roofs applicability in the metropolitan área of Porto Alegre and in the gaúcha high-lands, retrieving data, registering and analizing the existing samples. It also analizes the benefits recognized by professionals and users, as well as the necessary concerns towards their construction en manteinnance in these places.

Os processos tradicionais de produção na indústria da construção civil estão entre os maiores causadores de impactos ambientais ao planeta. A transformação do ambiente natural em ambiente construído consome consideráveis volumes de recursos naturais não-renováveis, e gera também consideráveis volumes de resíduos. Pesquisas recentes, nacionais e internacionais, têm buscado alternativas construtivas que minimizem esses aspectos negativos, identificando sistemas e técnicas construtivas que diminuam o consumo destes recursos, e que prolonguem o tempo de vida útil dos materiais. As coberturas vivas representam uma opção que, juntamente com outras técnicas, possibilitam uma mudança de paradigmas projetuais. Estas coberturas são uma alternativa construtiva que oferece a possibilidade de utilização de materiais locais, apresentam comprovados benefícios térmicos e acústicos. A possibilidade de utilização de coberturas vivas nas cidades pode promover, também, ganhos na umidificação e filtragem de partículas do ar, e na suavização de um meio térmico fortemente aquecido, sobretudo onde se encontram grandes aglomerações edificadas. A bibliografia existente sobre o assunto é, em sua maioria, estrangeira. O emprego de coberturas vivas em edificações ainda é bastante incipiente no Brasil, o que gera poucos registros de exemplares para pesquisas. Por outro lado, o pouco registro de pesquisas científicas sobre essa tecnologia no Brasil também dificulta sua divulgação e maior utilização, havendo ainda muitos mitos sobre o assunto. Sendo assim, as questões técnicas de desempenho ao longo dos anos e a adaptação às variações climáticas em locais com climas sub-tropicais, como é o caso de Porto Alegre, ainda são raras para quem procura informações sobre o assunto. O trabalho pretende contribuir para verificar a possibilidade de utilização de coberturas vivas na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre e Serra Gaúcha, levantando, registrando e analisando os exemplares existentes. Analisa, também, os benefícios percebidos por profissionais e usuários com seu uso, assim como os cuidados necessários à sua construção e manutenção nestes locais. / The tradicional production processes in the civil construction industry are among the greatest environmental impact causers in the planet. The transformation of the natural environment into the built environment consumes considerable amouts of non-renewable natural resorces and also generates a great volume of residue. Recent national and international researches have looked for constructive alteratives which could minimize these negative aspects, identifying constructive systems and technics that could diminish these resorces consumtion and lengthen the materials life time. The living roofs represent and option which, along with other technics, provide a change in the projectual paradigms. These roofs are a constructive alternative that offers the posibility of use of local materials, presents proved thermic and acoustic benefits. The possibility of use of living roofs in the cities can also promote gains in the humidification and filtrage of air particules and in the smoothening of a highly warmed thermic surface, specially where there are large built getherings. The existing bibliography about the subject is, mostly, foreign. The applying of living roofs on buildings is still incipient in Brazil, what generates few research sample records. Yet, the few records of cientific research about this technology in Brazil also makes it difficult to be disclosed and to increase its use while there are still a lot of miths about the subject. Therefore, the performance technical issues along the years and the adaptation to climate variations in sub-tropical environments , which is the case of Porto Alegre, are still rare to the ones who search for data about the subject. The study intends to contribute to verification of the living roofs applicability in the metropolitan área of Porto Alegre and in the gaúcha high-lands, retrieving data, registering and analizing the existing samples. It also analizes the benefits recognized by professionals and users, as well as the necessary concerns towards their construction en manteinnance in these places.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-05-17T19:27:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 christianemerhygatto.pdf: 2773385 bytes, checksum: e8d416707978d124a7e1001ef4a2d841 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-07-01T18:18:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 christianemerhygatto.pdf: 2773385 bytes, checksum: e8d416707978d124a7e1001ef4a2d841 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-01T18:18:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 christianemerhygatto.pdf: 2773385 bytes, checksum: e8d416707978d124a7e1001ef4a2d841 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-02 / As coberturas verdes são utilizadas com vantagens sobre as coberturas convencionais em climas frios e temperados há algumas décadas. Seu uso ganhou mais destaque nos últimos vinte anos como uma solução mais ecológica para coberturas. Recentemente, tem despertado mais interesse nos países de clima quente, como o Brasil. Essas coberturas são uma opção bastante viável nos trópicos, como arrefecimento das temperaturas internas, evidenciando aspectos de conforto e qualidade nos ambientes construídos. Analisando estudos de caso aplicados no Sudeste, pode-se verificar a eficiência desta técnica nos trópicos verificando as características e possibilidades de aplicação em nosso clima, sob o ponto de vista do conforto térmico, estabelecendo parâmetros e correlacionando-os com a literatura disponível, avaliando seu custo-benefício e seu comportamento. Após revisão da literatura, como os princípios de sustentabilidade aplicados às diretrizes de projeto, os conceitos, definições e evolução das coberturas verdes, as vantagens e desvantagens do sistema e suas fragilidades são apresentados 4 estudos de caso: a Escola Pública na comunidade Babilônia, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, o prédio residencial em Juiz de Fora - MG, Laboratório no Campus da USP em São Carlos – SP e o retrofit Ecohouse Urca, no Rio de Janeiro – RJ, com avaliação dos principais fatores e destaque aos pontos críticos de estrutura e impermeabilização que atuam significativamente no sucesso dessas coberturas. Embora se observe o interesse crescente e grande demanda, ainda não há muitos estudos que possibilitem a implantação de coberturas verdes em larga escala em climas tropicais. A análise comparativa sobre o desempenho de coberturas verdes em contextos concretos já testados contribui para o melhor conhecimento do tema e avaliação do potencial construtivo dessa técnica. Pretende colaborar no entendimento e aplicação das diretrizes elucidadas, estimulando e facilitando que as construções venham a incorporar esses requisitos e sejam concebidas com esses critérios, ajudando a disseminação dos conceitos sustentáveis na construção civil. / The green roofs are used with advantages over conventional roofs in cold and temperate climates for several decades. Its use has gained more prominence in the last twenty years as an environmentally-friendly solution for roofing. Recently, it has aroused more interest in hot climate countries such as Brazil. These roofs are a very feasible option the tropics, such as cooling of temperatures, showing aspects of comfort and quality in the built environment. Analyzing case studies applied in the Southeast, checking the features and possibilities of application in our climate, from the point of view of thermal comfort, setting parameters and correlating them with the available literature, evaluating its cost-effectiveness and their behavior, we can see the efficiency of this technique in the tropics. After reviewing the literature as the principles of sustainability applied to the design guidelines and concepts, definitions and evolution of green roofs, the advantages and disadvantages of the system and its weaknesses are presented 4 case studies: Public School community in Babylon, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, residential building in Juiz de Fora - MG, a Laboratory in USP’Campus at São Carlos – SP and retrofit Ecohouse Urca in Rio de Janeiro – RJ with assessment of the main factors and target at critical points of structure and waterproofing that involved significantly in the success of such coverage. While there is growing interest and high demand, there are not many studies that will permit the implementation of green roofs on a large scale at tropical climates. The comparative analysis on the performance of green roofs have been tested in real contexts contributes to a better understanding of the topic and constructive assessment of the potential of this technique. Intends to collaborate in understanding and applying the guidelines elucidated by stimulating and facilitating the building will incorporate these requirements and are designed with these criteria, helping to spread the concepts in sustainable construction.