Influence of Arbor on the Cooling Load Characteristics of Rural Houses—A Case Study in the Region of Hangzhou

Abstract

Numerous experiments have shown that trees can reduce the energy consumption of adjacent buildings, but little research has been carried out on how leaf area density (LAD) and the distance between walls and trees (DW-T) in different orientations affect the energy consumption of rural houses. Using an investigation method, a simulation method, and a remote sensing information extraction method, the impact of different tree-planting scenarios on the energy consumption of typical rural houses was analyzed. The results show that the energy-saving effect becomes more prominent with a higher leaf area density of trees in summer. Under the same conditions, Osmanthus fragrans is the most effective tree, followed by Koelreuteria paniculata, and then pomegranate. Moreover, the energy-saving rate of the rural house increases with a decrease in the wall–crown distance of the tree. For instance, when a Koelreuteria paniculata is planted on the west side of the rural house with a wall–crown distance of 1–3 m, the energy-saving rate ranges from 4.38% to 9.81%. Additionally, the planting orientation of the tree affects the energy-saving rate, with the west-facing orientation being the best and the north-facing orientation being the worst under the same conditions, and the energy-saving rate of the best orientation (west-facing) ranging from 2.11% to 14.98%. By establishing a comprehensive model, it was found that planting Osmanthus fragrans on the west side of a rural house with a 1 m wall–crown distance yields the best energy-saving effect. The results of this study can provide theoretical support for planting trees around rural houses from the perspective of energy saving.