https://doi.org/10.25678/0009C4

Data for: Comparing PV-green and PV-cool roofs to diverse rooftop options using decision analysis

Flat roofs can employ a range of technologies to improve sustainability, such as photovoltaic (PV) panels, green roofs, cool roofs, or a combination of these options. Yet, weighing the benefits, costs, and performance of different roofing technologies is complex, especially when different stakeholders are involved. Decision analysis techniques, such as multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), can be used to systematically evaluate a diverse range of rooftop options to assess trade-offs in a quantitative way and avoid decision biases. This study offers a holistic comparison of different roof types, considering stakeholder preferences and uncertainty using MCDA. Ten flat roof options are compared, including black, gravel, cool, extensive green and semi-intensive green roofs, each with or without a rooftop PV installation, for nine objectives and three hypothetical stakeholder profiles. Performance is evaluated using building energy simulation, hydrologic modeling, and literature research. Uncertainty analyses are used to evaluate the effects of model assumptions on the MCDA results. For assumed preferences of an urban planner and environmentalist, semi-intensive green roofs with integrated PV installation are the best performing option; however, for a hypothetical building owner more concerned with costs, a gravel roof with PV ranks best. Uncertainty plays a role in the results, in particular, the uncertainty of the predicted outcome of options for the building owner, which can change the top-ranking options considerably. The uncertainty analyses are useful to identify consensus options over all three stakeholder types. Despite considerable uncertainty, extensive and semi-intensive green roofs with PV are recommended as relatively robust best-performing options.

Data and Resources

Citation

This Data Package

Maurer, B., Lienert, J., & Cook, L. M. (2023). Data for: Comparing PV-green and PV-cool roofs to diverse rooftop options using decision analysis (Version 1.0) [Data set]. Eawag: Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology. https://doi.org/10.25678/0009C4

The associated article

Maurer, B., Lienert, J., & Cook, L. M. (2023). Comparing PV-green and PV-cool roofs to diverse rooftop options using decision analysis. Building and Environment, 245, 110922. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110922

Metadata

Open Data Open Data
Author
  • Maurer, Bettina
  • Lienert, Judit
  • Cook, Lauren M.
Keywords EnergyPlus,EPA SWMM,ValueDecisions,Python,Multicriteria decision analysis,Green roofs,Reflective roofs,Solar panels,Uncertainty analysis,multi-attribute value theory
Timerange
  • 2006 TO 2019
Geographic Name(s)
  • Dübendorf
Review Level general
Curator Cook, Lauren
Contact Cook, Lauren <lauren.cook@eawag.ch>
DOI 10.25678/0009C4