Eco-Friendly Healthcare: Evaluating Green Roofs as a Sustainable Solution for Indoor Air Quality in Hospitals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23918/eajse.v11i3p3Keywords:
Green Roof, Indoor Air Quality, Thermal Comfort, Reduced CO2 Emission, Hospital, Erbil, Sustainable HealthcareAbstract
Rapid urbanization and climate change increasingly threaten the sustainability of modern cities, placing healthcare facilities at risk due to their need to maintain healthy indoor environments for patients and staff. This study evaluates the effectiveness of green roofs as sustainable interventions to improve indoor air quality and environmental performance in hospitals. Two Hospitals in Erbil, Iraq—PAKY Hospital and CMC Hospital—were analyzed using simulation methods with Building Information Modelling (BIM), Open Studio, and Energy Plus. Conventional concrete roofs were compared to semi-intensive green roofs under identical climatic conditions, using really physical and thermal properties. The results showed significant improvements: at PAKY and CMC Hospital, green roofs reduced indoor temperatures, improved thermal comfort and humidity, and decreased annual carbon emissions. These results confirm that green roofs are effective strategies for enhancing hospital sustainability, reducing operating carbon footprints, improving indoor air quality (IAQ), and moving most spaces into ASHRAE-defined comfort bands to make hospitals more environmentally friendly. increasing environmental resilience, and supporting the well-being of patients and staff. The study's limitations include reliance on simulations instead of real-time monitoring and a lack of ventilation dynamics. Future research must incorporate on-site environmental measurements, evaluate long-term maintenance and cost-benefit trade-offs, and investigate applicability across various hospital types and climate zones.
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The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the author upon reasonable request.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Paywast Hameed Taher, Husein Ali Husein
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