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Article #125: Trees - the Outdoor A/C

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






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