Evaluating the Effects of Roof Greening on the Indoor Thermal Environment throughout the Year in a Chinese City (Chenzhou)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The paper consists of an interesting effort to present the research results of a study on the annual thermal effects on the indoor thermal environment caused by roof greening in hot summer and cold winter climate zone, based on collected data from the city of Chenzhou.

Even though the results and perspectives of this study are interesting there are a series of major comments that would need to be addressed.

Specifically:

A. The title could benefit from the insert of the study location in order to guide the readers' attention on the subject of the article

B. The paper starts with an interesting reference on urbanization; however, apart from lines 30-34, 48-50, there is no further reference on the impact of urbanization or the policy insights of this paper in regard to the various challenges posed by urbanization, as well as the potential benefits of roof greening. Both the introduction and a discussion section (which is missing) would highly benefit from this analysis.

C. The introduction section lacks of a paragraph on previous studies conducted on this field and how the current study steps on them. In addition, some further information on climatic and socio-demographic characteristics of the study area would further contextualize the scope of the articles

D. Lines 138-148 of the results section, rather seem to fit in the methods section; 

E. Lines 171-183 of the results section, rather belong to a discussion section, which is apparently missing; 

G. In line, to the comment above please consider adding a structured discussion section, including those limitations which are rather abruptly inserted in the conclusion section, lines 260-266, without providing any justification how these limitations were considered in the current paper; In addition, the article would highly benefit from a well articulated argument on the policy perspectives that the study's findings offer, also linking to other relevant publications. 

H. The conclusion section, lines 248-266, rather assimilates a discussion section. In line to comment above (G), please also consider restructuring your conclusion section, offering a clearer insight on the added value of this study on the studied subject's topic as well as recommendations for future studies.

I. The article would highly benefit an English native speaker editing.

Author Response

Please see the attachment

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

I find the manuscript well written with interesting information for the readers. Some suggestions to enrich the document are indicated in the attached pdf file.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

No further comments