Abstract

In Rouhollahi et. al. (2022), it was found that the strategic arrangement of a small number of trees of appropriate type around a dwelling can enhance the comfort of the residents, as well as lower energy costs. In this study, we report on an experiment run in a substantial garden setting around a house in suburban Adelaide, Australia. Under the Koppen Climate Classification criteria, Adelaide has a Mediterranean climate, with mild wet winters and hot dry summers. Ten temperature and humidity sensors were placed around a garden where there are over 80 food producing trees and shrubs. Two sensors were placed in the house in the centre of the garden, one in the kitchen, and one in a bedroom. One sensor was also installed in a highly energy efficient separate studio. As a control, a sensor was installed in an open lawn area in a nearby property. Results include a temperature difference of 6-10 degrees in the middle of the day over a 10 day period in summer. An interesting result is that in the vegetation, temperatures were higher at night in winter than in the open area. The conclusion is that the vegetation exhibits beneficial effects both summer and winter.
Rouhollahi, M, Whaley, D, Byrne, J & Boland, 2022, 'Potential residential tree arrangement to optimise dwelling energy efficiency', Energy and Buildings, vol. 261, pp. 1-19.