Saturday, March 12, 2016

How trees can cut your air-con bill

Source Website: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/how-trees-can-cut-your-air-con-bill
By Lin Yangchen, linyc@sph.com.sg, The Straits Times, Saturday, 12 March 2016


The proposed alignment of the new Cross Island Line, which could run through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, has sparked heated debate.
PHOTO: Trees provide shade and cool the air when water evaporates from their leaves. Having trees behind a house might save money on air-conditioning bills. This has to do with the way plants cool the air when water evaporates from their leaves. With climate change already bringing higher temperatures and more extreme weather events, the importance of greenery is set to increase.
Photo: The Straits Times
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http://www.veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2016/02/cross-island-line-debate-misses.html


They provide shade and cool the air when water evaporates from their leaves.

Did you know that the patch of trees behind your house might save you money on air-conditioning bills?

This has to do with the way plants cool the air when water evaporates from their leaves. With climate change already bringing higher temperatures and more extreme weather events, the importance of greenery is set to increase.

"We are in a climate where every degree counts in terms of human comfort," said Associate Professor Matthias Roth of the department of geography at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

This is especially so in a densely built city like Singapore, where concrete surfaces absorb heat during the day and the "canyons" of closely packed buildings prevent it from escaping at night.


Park Royal Tower: WOHA’s Stunning Vertical Garden Tower
PHOTO: Park Royal Tower: WOHA’s Stunning Vertical Garden Tower
The initial renderings of WOHA Architects' Park Royal Hotel in Singapore showed a building almost completely overrun with gardens, water features and green pathways - and now we're excited to say that the project is complete! The lush urban oasis features cascading planter terraces and waterfalls, creating an almost otherworldly botanical microcosm in the midst of busy Singapore.
Posted by Parkroyal Singapore WOHA Architects
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This is known as the urban heat island effect and was the subject of a recent study by Prof Roth in collaboration with his master's student, Mr Reuben Li.

They deployed about 40 temperature and humidity sensors all over Singapore, monitoring hourly changes in different environments over about three years.

The study found that rural areas with few buildings, like Lim Chu Kang, were about 3 deg C cooler at night than urban areas such as Orchard Road. This is because a flat and open rural area allows heat to escape easily at night.


Rural areas with few buildings, like Lim Chu Kang, were about 3 deg C cooler at night than urban areas such as Orchard Road.
PHOTO: Rural areas with few buildings, like Lim Chu Kang, were about 3 deg C cooler at night than urban areas such as Orchard Road. This is because a flat and open rural area allows heat to escape easily at night.
Trees are a beautiful part of our lives. From striking individual trees that are of historic significance or are simply large and majestic, to a grove of trees in a city park, trees enrich our lives by simply being there. Trees are not just a key to the natural ecosystem --trees are an essential part of community life.
Posted by IKEA Twin Cities on Friday, September 30, 2011 at 6:00 AM, 10 Reasons to Plant a Tree
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http://ikeatwincitiesmn.blogspot.sg/2011_09_01_archive.html


If the night is clear and calm, the rural area can be up to 7 deg C cooler as there are no clouds to prevent heat from escaping into space, and no wind blowing in warmer air from the city.

In the day, however, rural areas are as warm as urban areas, the researchers found. This is where having tall trees can make a difference.

The temperature sensors showed that at midday, forested areas are about 1.5 deg C cooler on average than urban areas. This is because trees provide shade as well as evaporative cooling.


Trees reduce energy consumption by direct and indirect cooling.
PHOTO: Trees reduce energy consumption by direct and indirect cooling. Shade reduces the amount of heat surfaces absorb and reduces the use of air-conditioning.
Posted by Just Holes, Inc on 17 August 2012
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Even a small park in the city can have a cooling effect. An example is Telok Kurau Park, a rectangular plot measuring 187m by 97m with large shady trees, in the midst of a sprawling estate of low-rise housing.

A study by Prof Roth's honours student, Ms Khoo Yuan Ling, in 2004 found that on a clear and calm night, the park can be up to 2 deg C cooler than the surrounding area.

She also found that the cooling effect can be felt beyond the park boundary up to a distance roughly equal to its width. This is known as the edge effect.


Even a small park in the city can have a cooling effect.
PHOTO: Even a small park in the city can have a cooling effect. The cooling effect can be felt beyond the park boundary up to a distance roughly equal to its width. This is known as the edge effect.
Posted by Fox2006, nudiarist - The Pagan Witch
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Said Prof Roth: "If you remove the pocket of green area, you remove the edge effect as well." The result? Increased discomfort and higher air-conditioning bills as people fight the heat by blasting their air-conditioning.

The Centre for Climate Research Singapore has projected an increase in surface temperature of 1.4 to 4.6 deg C across the country by the end of the century. While global warming is impossible for Singapore to control on its own, it still has a role to play.


The Centre for Climate Research Singapore has projected an increase in surface temperature of 1.4 to 4.6 ºC across the country by the end of the century.

PHOTO: The Centre for Climate Research Singapore has projected an increase in surface temperature of 1.4 to 4.6 ºC across the country by the end of the century.
Picture posted by wolf-66 - nude lady in the woods - seems nature meets fantasy. I love this pic. - Wolf
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"What we can do locally is to try to mitigate the heat island effect," said Prof Roth.

The Singapore Government has worked hard to preserve greenery in the country, which ranks among South-east Asia's foremost economic powerhouses. Almost half of the island is green. The total area of greenery in Singapore increased from 35.7 to 46.5 per cent from 1986 to 2007, according to a report by the National Parks Board.


Almost half of the island is green.
PHOTO: Almost half of the island is green. The total area of greenery in Singapore increased from 35.7 to 46.5 per cent from 1986 to 2007, according to a report by the National Parks Board.
Picture posted by Blanca Portillo on 21 October 2014
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http://coronariversideproperties.blogspot.sg/2014/10/gardening-7-of-fastest-growing-shade.html


The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) says that 9 per cent of Singapore's land has been set aside for parks and nature reserves, and 19 per cent for defence. A large proportion of the land for defence use is wooded.

URA also has policies in place to ensure that greenery and development go hand in hand.

"In all new regional growth centres, it is now mandatory for developers to replace 100 per cent of the site area they displaced on their new buildings in the form of greenery and communal spaces," said a URA spokesman.


This Ho Chi Minh City complex will be composed of a trio of buildings that are covered in bamboo and linked with bridges shaded by foliage.
PHOTO: This Ho Chi Minh City complex will be composed of a trio of buildings that are covered in bamboo and linked with bridges shaded by foliage. Set on a roughly 90,400-square-foot plot, the three buildings - each 22 stories - will accommodate some 720 residences, all with access to the communal rooftop garden.
Photo: Courtesy of Vo Trong Nghia Architects
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http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/5-remarkable-buildings-that-use-trees-as-design-element


Mr Kavickumar Muruganathan, head of eco-certifications and lead environmental engineer at the Singapore Environment Council, pointed out that greenery serves many purposes. Besides cooling the air and being home to wildlife, it relaxes the mind and acts as a natural noise barrier.

"It even acts as an effective flood alleviation mechanism," he added, citing the ability of vegetation to retain water.

By Lin Yangchen, linyc@sph.com.sg, The Straits Times, Saturday, 12 March 2016
This article was first published on March 11, 2016.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.


The giant forest trees in the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment nature reserves.
PHOTO: The giant forest trees in the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment nature reserves.
Greenery serves many purposes. Besides cooling the air and being home to wildlife, it relaxes the mind and acts as a natural noise barrier.
"It even acts as an effective flood alleviation mechanism," said Mr Kavickumar Muruganathan, head of eco-certifications and lead environmental engineer at the Singapore Environment Council, citing the ability of vegetation to retain water.
Posted by Audrey Tan, Published on 14 February 2016 at 5:00 am SGT
PHOTO: CHUA EE KIAM
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http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/articles/2016/02/14/print1405.jpg?itok=Bn-uIbfj
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/what-does-moderate-impact-mean
http://www.veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2016/02/cross-island-line-debate-misses.html



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