Features enhance cooling effect: shade trees

1 of 1 Pterocarpus indicus, rose wood / Tony Rodd / License

The cooling effects of shade trees in subtropical regions are most influenced by foliage density, leaf thickness, leaf texture, and leaf color lightness.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from abiotic factors >
	Temperature

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Designing shading techniques for buildings, walkways, parks. Selecting trees for decreasing heat island effect in cities.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Now, a research team from the Department of Horticulture at National Taiwan University has published a comprehensive study in HortScience that offers recommendations for landscape designers and urban planners in subtropical regions…The researchers analyzed four characteristics of each plant related to cooling effect, determining that foliage density had the greatest contribution to cooling, followed by leaf thickness, leaf texture, and leaf color lightness. Regression analysis also revealed that solar radiation, wind velocity, and vapor pressure at the site had significant effects on temperature reduction attributable to shade trees or bamboo.

"Twelve species in the study provided 0.64 to 2.52ºC lower air temperature and 3.28 to 8.07ºC lower surface-soil temperature under the canopies compared with the unshaded open site. When analyzed for 'cooling effect,' Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) and Rose wood (Pterocarpus indicus) were the determined to be the most effective, while Golden shower tree (Cassia fitula), Autumn maple (Bischofia javanica), and Swollen bamboo (Bambusa ventricosa) were the least effective." (Science Daily 2010)

About the inspiring organism

Pterocarpus indicus
Pterocarpus indicus Willd.
[Sang drago]

IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable

Some organism data provided by: ILDIS World Database of Legumes
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Designing shading techniques for buildings, walkways, parks. Selecting trees for decreasing heat island effect in cities.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Urban planning

COMOLEVI Forest Canopy - Artificial shade structure

Experts

Department of Horticulture
Yann-Jou Lin
National Taiwan University

References

2010. Low-tech cool: shade trees for subtropical streets. Science Daily [Internet],