Abstract:
Greenery in road facades and building facades contribute to create thermal comfort while
purifying the air. Thermal comfort around greenery results from Evapotranspirative cooling.
While there are many plant specific air purification mechanisms, photosynthesis is the main air
purification mechanism that converts CO2 in to O2 .The decisions on greening towards more
comfortable environment should essentially include selection of species higher
evapotranspiration properties and higher photosynthesis rates. This research aims to identify
species with higher transpiration and CO2 absorbance properties among most frequently used
plant species in the Western Province, Sri Lanka. A pool consisting of 35 plants species was
created by a roadside survey done in the three districts of Western Province, Sri Lanka. These
plants were then rated by an expert judgement for their air purification and thermal comfort
creation performance using three plant factors namely, leaf area, leaf structure and stomatal
movement using a subjective scale. From the outcomes a set of plant species were identified
which have higher performance for thermal performance and air purification. Result of this
research can be used for selection of most suitable plant species for green facades which having
higher transpiration properties. It is expected to verify the results through an experimental
verification.
