cooling and shade

Shading can prevent or reduce hot air infiltration into homes, which is crucial in home cooling. Trees and shrubs, pergolas, trellises, patios with vegetation, overhangs, trombe walls and greenhouses are the most common elements of shading strategies.

Shading and climate

Strategies for shading in regions with cold winters demands deciduous trees and shrubs, awnings and blinds (and other shading devices) and overhangs.

Shading in hotter tropical and subtropical climates demands evergreen trees, sun protection, and specific strategies like ground covers and patios with vegetation. Overhangs, blinds or awnings can also be relevant.

Trees and shrubs

Evergreen trees and shrubs can be crucial to filter sunlight or to mitigate colder winter winds in hot climate countries.

In temperate and cold climates, on the contrary, passive cooling requires deciduous trees and shrubs, which can provide summer shading without blocking winter sun (in these climates evergreen trees and shrubs are useful as windbreaks).

Site and shape

Cooling strategies principles are rather obvious in what concerns shading: homes should be sited where summer wind obstructions are minimal. Designs for naturally ventilated homes bet on narrow buildings.

Sun and wind exposure

See: Windows and Cooling

Overhangs, awnings and other shading devices

Overhangs are key elements in cooling strategies. Properly sized and located they minimize sunlight striking on the walls and windows, and reduce sun reflection and radiation around the home, decreasing temperatures.

Awnings, blinds and other mechanical shading devices should also be considered.

Ground covers and patios with vegetation

Pergolas, trellises, ground cover plants and patios with vegetation reduce or eliminate sun radiation around the home, mainly in hotter climates.

The idea is to use trees and other vegetation as a source of shading and as a first filter of sunlight, while pergolas, trellises and ground covers (located closer to the home) provide a second protection and shading filter. Patio areas with vegetation or water ponds or similar water features, will also act as cooling systems, mainly in hotter climates.