Comparative thermal evaluation of a vegetative shading structure and a synthetic shade net in Parral, Chile
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22320/07190700.2026.16.01.10Keywords:
overheating, grapevine pergola, outdoor thermal comfort, transitional spacesAbstract
This study comparatively evaluates the thermal performance of a grapevine pergola and a shade net as conditioning strategies for intermediate outdoor spaces in a temperate climate. An in situ experiment was conducted in Parral, Chile, using environmental measurements collected over a 14-day summer period as part of an exploratory approach. Air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and globe temperature were recorded, and mean radiant temperature and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) were calculated for the period between 11 am and 4 pm. The results indicate the grapevine pergola performed better, with a lower UTCI and mean radiant temperature values than those recorded under the shade net. The greatest difference between the two conditions was observed for the second parameter, with daily variations ranging from 2.6 to 4.3 °C. It is concluded that the grapevine pergola constitutes a more effective passive strategy for improving outdoor thermal comfort.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Nelson Arias-Jiménez, Rodrigo Figueroa-San-Martín, Diego Cárdenas-Merino
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