Impact of urban heat island on cooling and environment: A demonstration project
Landscaping has been shown in simulation and field studies to reduce building cooling loads by affecting microclimatic factors such as solar radiation, wind speed and air temperature. A demonstration project was undertaken to determine the magnitude of landscape induced changes in microclimate on building cooling loads and water use on four typical residences in Phoenix, Arizona. The energy use and microclimate of three unlandscaped (bare soil, rock mulch) and one landscaped (turf) home were monitored during summer 1990. In the fall, turf was placed around one of the unlandscaped houses, and shade trees planted on the west and south sides of another. Measurements continued during the summer of 1991. Total house air conditioning and selected appliance electrical data were collected, as well as inside and outside air temperatures. Detailed microclimate measurements were obtained for one to two week periods during both summers. Maximum reductions of hourly outside air temperatures of 1 to 1.5{degrees}C, and of daily average air temperatures of up to 1{degrees}C, resulted from the addition of turf landscaping. Addition of small trees to the south and west sides of another treatment did not have a noticeable effect on air temperature. Cooling load reductions of 10% to 17% were observed between years when well-watered turf landscaping was added to a house previously surrounded by bare soil. Addition of small trees to another bare landscape did not produce a detectable change in cooling load. The results of the study are used as input to a standard building energy use simulation model to predict landscape effects on cooling load and water usage for three typical houses, and to develop guidelines for use of energy efficient residential landscapes in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Research Organization:
- Urban Consortium for Technology Initiatives (United States). Energy Task Force; Phoenix Public Works Dept., AZ (United States). Energy Conservation Section; Public Technology, Inc., Washington, DC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC02-90CE27504
- OSTI ID:
- 10118138
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/CE/27504-T10; ON: DE94005838; IN: DG/91-323; BR: EC0302000/EC1201200; TRN: 94:004517
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Apr 1993
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
LANDSCAPING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
HOUSES
COOLING LOAD
WATER USE
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
MICROCLIMATES
URBAN AREAS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
320100
540240
BUILDINGS
THERMAL EFFLUENTS MONITORING AND TRANSPORT