Deciduous trees and plants have been promoted as a means of controlling solar heating and cooling. When planted on the southern side of a building in the northern hemisphere or the northern side in the southern hemisphere, their leaves provide shade during the summer, while the bare limbs allow light to pass during the winter. Since bare, leafless trees shade 1/3 to 1/2 of incident solar radiation, there is a balance between the benefits of summer shading and the corresponding loss of winter heating. In climates with significant heating loads, deciduous trees should not be planted on the Equator facing side of a building because they will interfere with winter solar availability. They can, however, be used on the east and west sides to provide a degree of summer shading without appreciably affecting winter solar gain. COUNT 5
QSN1 The placement of deciduous trees on the Equator facing side of a building can have a negative effect on solar availability in which season? ANS1 winter QSN2 What is something that is used to control solar heating and cooling? ANS2 trees and plants QSN3 How much solar radiation is blocked by leafless trees? ANS3 1/3 to 1/2 QSN4 Why should trees not be planted on the side of a building facing the equator? ANS4 they will interfere with winter solar availability QSN5 What side of a building should trees be planted without greatly affecting solar gain in the winter? ANS5 east and west