February 13, 2006
Trees are more than lush adornments for neighborhoods and parks.
According to Temple University Ambler Assistant Horticulture Professor Dr. Jun Yang, trees can help homes save energy, if put in the right location.
Dr. Yang has been awarded a $4,500 University Summer Research Award to conduct further research during the summer of 2006. Thirty-five Summer Research Awards are presented annually by the Provost on the recommendation of the Study Leave Advisory Committee.
“The idea of saving energy through tree planting near residential buildings has generated more and more attention as the energy price keeps rising. Studies in the past have shown that trees planted around homes can help to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent,” Dr. Yang said. “The energy savings come primarily from the shade produced in the summer and wind blockage by trees during the winter.”
Most studies, however, tend to neglect the negative impact of trees on energy use, according to Dr. Yang.
“The interference of trees on natural ventilation and air conditioning cooling load can actually increase energy use,” he said. “Knowledge of the negative impact is important because less, or even no, energy saving can result if the wrong tree is planted at the wrong location.”
Dr. Yang’s summer research will study the impact of trees on the air flow surrounding a typical residential building and the corresponding energy use. A field survey will be conducted in the Philadelphia region to generate shape and growth pattern data of primary landscape tree species. A “computational fluid dynamics (CFD)” model will be used to simulate air flow patterns around buildings under different tree planting scenarios.
“The result from this research will supplement important information for the design of energy conservation landscapes,” he said.
According to Dr. Yang, his summer research will be “a pilot study.”
“I will test my hypothesis and develop a protocol for a large-scale research in the future. The initial result will help me to apply for grants from agencies like the US Department of Energy and National Science Foundation.”
A practical guide on how to choose tree species and how to position them around homes for energy conservation in Philadelphia region, Dr. Yang added, will be made available to the general public after his initial research.
Dr. Yang came to Temple University Ambler from the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management of the University of California, Berkeley, where he was completing his Ph.D. in Urban Forestry. He holds a master’s degree in Botany and a bachelor’s degree in Forest Science from the Beijing Forestry University in China.
With an expertise in urban forestry and urban horticulture, Dr. Yang’s research at Ambler includes suburban watershed restoration, urban forest management, and “applying ecological concepts to sustainable urban landscape design and management.”
“I want to contribute to the integration of rural-oriented traditional forestry and horticulture with urban planning and urban design. My long term research goal is to identify innovative urban landscape design and management practices to deal with urban environmental problems,” he said. “It is very important to me to get students involved in research projects — they are able to gain valuable experiences that will prepare them for jobs or for graduate school. I don’t think you can over-emphasize the importance of hands-on learning experiences for students in Landscape Architecture and Horticulture. While lectures provide important scientific theories, hands-on practice lets students learn how to put those theories into real use.” |
