| According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, | | | | cool "shaded" areas decrease the quantity of heat |
| planting trees and vegetation is a simple and effective | | | | transferring to buildings....thus reducing the energy |
| way to reduce heat islands. When a city such as | | | | needed for air conditioning. |
| Downtown Clearwater strategically plants trees | | | | We should also keep in mind that trees and vegetation |
| around homes and buildings the interior is directly | | | | improve air quality most notably by reducing Carbon |
| cooled, therefore reducing air conditioning and peak | | | | Dioxide (CO2) emissions, decreasing storm water |
| energy demand. It has been proven that trees | | | | runoff and by improving community livability. |
| effectively cool the air and buildings around them | | | | NASA reported in a 2004 article that some US cities |
| through the production of shade and | | | | have initiated the planting of rooftop gardens on city |
| "evapotranspiration" which is the evaporation of water | | | | buildings to help cool the urban surface. Rooftop |
| from leaves. | | | | gardens insulate buildings and reduce energy |
| It is interesting to learn that the shade from trees make | | | | consumption by intercepting solar energy that would |
| the surface cooler anywhere from 9 to 36 degrees F | | | | otherwise heat the roof surface. And because rooftop |
| or 5 to 20 degrees C. This is much cooler than the | | | | gardens are irrigated, evapotranspiration helps cool the |
| peak surface temperature of un-shaded areas. These | | | | air. |