Envelope

Landscape to Reduce Energy Consumption

In addition to increasing the attractiveness of a building site, landscaping can be put to use to decrease energy consumption in smaller, low-rise buildings. Deciduous trees can be planted to provide shade for low, east- or west-facing windows, although they have to be planted near their mature size in order to achieve a significant effect. Trees and shrubs can control glare from adjacent surfaces and materials such as neighboring buildings and reflecting glass surfaces. They can also shade parking lot surfaces, reducing the temperature of the paving materials and lowering ambient air temperatures around buildings. Finally, plant materials can be used to control and funnel breezes into ventilated portions of buildings where the direction and speed of the prevailing winds are dependable.