Green Roof Effectiveness in Insulating Urban Buildings of Cape Town: Temperature Control Insights

Green roofs have been increasingly adopted in urban areas to mitigate climate change impacts such as heat islands. Cape Town, South Africa, is a suitable location for studying their effectiveness due to its diverse urban environment and growing population. A mixed-method approach was employed, combining meteorological data analysis with case studies of representative green roof projects. Building energy models were used for predictive simulations. The average daytime temperature reduction achieved by the green roofs varied from 3°C to 5°C across different building types and sites in Cape Town, indicating significant insulation effects. Green roofs effectively enhance urban buildings' thermal performance, providing substantial temperature control benefits during summer months. This study contributes to a more sustainable urban development strategy. Urban planners should consider green roof installations as part of their climate resilience strategies and further research is recommended for comprehensive understanding. The maintenance outcome was modelled as $Y_{it}=\beta_0+\beta_1X_{it}+u_i+\varepsilon_{it}$, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.