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Pitching for the perfect plant
In addition to providing shade, plants play a big role in cooling by
transpiration. But, it's prudent to select right plant for giving all-round
utility value to the house |
 A bit of greenery around home always pays. Indeed, it does in many ways.
From chasing away heat and throwing a cool cover to giving an aesthetic look, it has many utilities. But what kind of plant one should have needs some expert advice.
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Using plants for shading
Match plant characteristics (such as foliage density, canopy height and spread) to shading requirements.
Choose local native species wherever possible. In addition to providing shade, plants can assist cooling by transpiration. Plants also enhance the visual environment and create pleasant filtered light.
Deciduous plants allow winter sun through and exclude summer sun. Trees with high canopies are useful for shading roofs and large portions of the building structure.
Shrubs are appropriate for more localised shading of windows. Wall vines and ground cover insulate against summer heat and reduce reflected radiation. |
Shading and daylight
Choose shading methods that allow adequate amounts of daylight into the building while preventing unwanted heat gain. Select plants that allow filtered light into the building.
Design glazing to admit maximum light for minimum heat gain. Clear sections in verandah roofs can be useful.
Light-coloured external surfaces or shading devices reflect more light into the building. Depending on the situation, this can be beneficial or it can create unwanted glare.
Good orientation increases the energy efficiency of a home, making it more comfortable to live in and cheaper to run.
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