RE: [EnergyPlus_Support] Re: Trees

[Andy Tindale <andy.tindale@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I believe that the 2 main benefits of trees from the point of view of building energy simulation are a) shading (easy to model using E+ shading decides) and b) the evaporative cooling effect of tree transpiration on the local environment. Perhaps reduced daytime CO2 is another one. 

Re b), One problem is that E+ uses a uniform external environment which would be quite difficult to modify in any meaningful way within E+. However, one approach some analysts have taken in the past is to modify the dry and wet-bulb temperatures in the epw file to account for the trees, which of course requires separate analysis.

Another approach people have used to account for trees and expanses of water outside the building is to use evaporative cooler HVAC equipment as a proxy, but this would require a separate analysis and a number of assumptions which would be difficult to quantify.

Andy

Andy Tindale
DesignBuilder Software ltd
www.designbuilder.com
Tel: +44 (0)1453 755500


-----Original Message-----
From: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Robin Cris
Sent: 11 July 2012 10:07
To: EnergyPlus_Support@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [EnergyPlus_Support] Re: Trees

I am trying to convince the city to plant more trees in educational facilities all around the city.

To do so, I want to show them that there is a big big deference between shading devices and trees. and to stand under trees is much more nicer (climate vise). 
I think that even the energy usage will drop down in side the classes building because of those trees.

I want to show show the carbon/CO2 levels but I guess I will need to do that in another program that I don't know which yet.