Biodesign and thermal comfort in living facades with mycelium in buildings in Arequipa, Peru

Abstract

The city of Arequipa has a cold, semi-arid climate with high solar radiation and daily temperature variations of up to 15°C, which increases energy demand and reduces indoor comfort. In this context, biodesign and the use of biomaterials emerge as sustainable alternatives. This study evaluates two building envelope solutions: facades with microalgae bioreactors and mycelium panels, both compared to a conventional facade. A mixed-methods approach was applied, including energy simulation with EnergyPlus, on-site monitoring for 60 days, and post-occupancy evaluation with 60 users, in addition to a life cycle analysis to estimate emissions. The results show reductions of up to 18% in cooling loads with microalgae and 15% with mycelium, as well as a 25% increase in thermal comfort. Furthermore, an estimated decrease in emissions of between 8% and 14% was also observed. These findings show that living facades improve thermal comfort, reduce energy consumption, and contribute to sustainability in Andean climates.