Application of Landscape Elements for Climatic Control Within Buildings

8/12/2019 Application of Landscape Elements for Climatic Control Within Buildings.

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Application of landscape

elements for climatic control

within buildings


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This presentation discusses the landscape

design that could increase energy efficiency in ahouse. By planting trees in a house compound, the

tree shades prevent direct sunlight from heating

up the building, and it enables cooling off thesurrounding air. The requirement for air-

conditioning could be minimized and the air

quality could be improved. During the life time of

a tree, the saving cost from the mentioned

benefits could be up to US $ 200 for each tree.


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Planting trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and

hedges is another way to lower energy bills. In

fact, landscaping could be a best long-term

investment for reducing heating and cooling

costs, while also bringing other improvements

to the community.Landscape refers to any activities that

modify any visual features on a piece of land

including life element as flora and fauna,natural element such as the soil structure, and

abstract element such as weather and lighting.


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According to the United States National

Renewable Energy Laboratory, carefully

positioned trees can save up to 25% of ahouseholdsenergy consumption for heating and

cooling. Computer models devised by the U.S.

Department of Energy predict that the properplacement of only three trees will save an

average household between $100 and $250 in

energy costs annually. The coolness of parks andwooded areas could be noticed compared to the

temperature of nearby city streets.


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Shading and evapotranspiration (the process

by which a plant actively moves and releaseswater vapor) from trees can reduce

surrounding air temperatures as much as 9 F

(5C).Because cool air settles near the ground, air

temperatures directly under trees can be as

much as 25F (14C) cooler than airtemperatures above nearby blacktop.


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In general, there are three

classifications of landscape trees:

1. Small less than 7.5 meter2. Medium-7.5 meter to 12.2 meter

3. Big - more than 12.2 meter


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Small trees are most suitable to beplanted in

the house compound to prevent morning,

afternoon and evening direct sunlight to thehouse. Medium trees give extra shades to the

building and house compound. They also

prevent direct sunlight to the house anddevelop shades on the wall.

Generally, medium trees should be

planted from three to four meters from thehouse. A big tree is not suitable for housing

areas.


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There are various tree shapes that could

give maximum shading to the house. Ovaland round shape trees could give effective

shading if planted in big quantities.

Pyramidalis the least effective shading. Fig.1 presents the potential shade of various

tree types according the canopy shape and

density of the created shades.


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VEGETATION

Vegetation can control the suns effect by filtration of direct solar

radiation in the following ways (Figure 3).

(i) By controlling the amount of heat radiated from groundsurfaces, by obstruction and control of reflected radiation.

(ii) Through the control of winds by Obstruction, Filtration,

Deflection and Guidance (Figure 4).

The use of vegetation for controlling wind is widely recognized.

Vegetation areas designed to fulfil these general functions areusually classified as windbreaks and shelterbelts.

The term windbreak refers to protective planting around a garden

or orchard. Windbreaks may also provide shade for buildings or

cattle pens, and have aesthetic value in areas,which do not have much existing vegetation cover. Windbreaks

generally consist of a single or double row of trees. The term

shelterbelt refers to extensive barriers of trees protecting the fields.

To be effective, shelterbelts require a much more careful layout then

simple windbreaks.


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D. External obstructions may also be used to re-direct the flow of air, where

the main windows do not face the flow of air.


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(a) Small landforms,

(b) Adjustment in landforms for maximum

solar radiation,

(c) Landforms to improve the vegetation

(a)

(c)


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Application of Landscape Elements for Climatic Control Within Buildings