Effect of tree shades in urban planning in hot-arid climatic regions

The present study is carried out for dry hot climate places, where excessive solar heating is felt throughout the year. The effect of tree shadowing buildings is found to reduce heating loads; hence trees have a beneficial effect in energy economics. The emerging economic value of tree shadows in hot climate cities grants the development of an appropriate simulation numerical method to establish relative advantages on energy savings related to dwelling envelopes. The results demonstrate that large trees can provide up to 70% shade during spring and autumn, thus saving a very large amount of energy along the whole year. Hence, economic value of larger trees is greater than that of younger species. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.