Comparative Study of Solar Radiation Availability in Dry Climate Urban Environment Forested Areas in Mendoza, Argentina

The study proposes determining the potential of solar collection in urban environments, considering urban building different morphological variables corresponding to representative urban settings in the Mendoza Metropolitan Area (AMM), Argentina. The methodology involves monitoring the global solar irradiance on the vertical plane in north facades, completely and partly sunny, affected by solid masking and masking woodland. Results obtained so far indicate that solar masking is critical for vertical surfaces, with a reduction of the available solar energy between 2% and 66% in the winter season, depending on the type of trees and the building morphol- ogy. In the summer season, the measured solar masking values range from a maximum of 83% and a minimum of 10% influence of surface shaded by the neighboring buildings and trees. The results demonstrate the impact of the main variables that determine access to the sun in an urban environment (Urban Tree Canopy, Building Morphology, Building Height, Urban Street Width). The study will allow for future reform and progressive updating of urban and building codes to implement higher levels of energy efficiency and minimum environmental impact by urban buildings, considering the principal urban building variables.