Tree and neighboring buildings shading effects on the thermal performance of a house in a warm sub-humid climate

Abstract

This work quantifies the effect of the tree shading and the effect of neighboring buildings shading on the thermal performance of a non-air-conditioned house in a warm sub-humid climate. Experimental measurements and simulations using EnergyPlus of the unoccupied house were conducted from April to December 2011 with tree shading and from January to April 2012 without tree shading. The simulations, that also considered the neighboring shading, were validated with the experimental results. To assess the effect of the tree shading, specific simulations were carried out with and without the tree for the weather conditions of December 2011 and April 2012. In addition, to assess the effect of neighboring building shading, simulations with and without neighboring buildings were conducted in April 2012, both without the tree. The main effects of the tree shading and of the neighboring buildings shading are the reduction of indoor air and envelope surface temperatures. It was shown that not taking into account the neighboring buildings shading gives a difference in average indoor air temperature up to 2.3 °C. The effect of the tree shading is greater in April (the warmest month) than in December (the coldest month). As indoor air temperatures in the coldest month are in the comfort range for the tree shading case, it is concluded that evergreen trees are adequate for this climate.