Clean Technica | Nexus Media | By: Marlene Cimons | September 17th, 2017:
Trees provide beauty when they bloom and shade when it’s hot. They are a symbol of the environment, hence the term “tree huggers” to describe eco-activists. They even inspire (often florid) poetry.
And now, scientists have learned that urban trees — even just a single tree — can help homes and office buildings save energy by blunting the chilling power of a stiff wind. Trees keep pedestrians more comfortable when they stroll down the street, and they help lower building heating costs by reducing wind pressure. Even trees without leaves can help slow the wind down.
Scientists have long understood that trees can cool buildings when the weather is hot, but little attention has been paid to their role in keeping buildings warmer — and thus saving energy — when the weather is cold.
These are important contributions for coping with the effects of climate change. The knowledge potentially could help urban planners design buildings, streets and city blocks to enhance peoples’ comfort and prevent energy loss. It also could improve weather forecasts by helping meteorologists predict the impact of storms on structures and pedestrians. The findings, detailed in a new study, were published in the journal Advances in Water Resources.
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