New housing subdivisions, smaller yards and a dependence on air conditioning have resulted in a 30 per cent decline in Australian residential trees in the past decade, leading to hotter neighborhoods and increased energy costs.

Rouhollahi and her UniSA colleagues, including supervisor Professor John Boland, have designed an optimal tree strategy for different housing configurations, nominating specific tree types, tree volumes, and correct placement to achieve maximum benefits.

The researchers’ proposal aligns with the latest IPCC report recommending increased space between houses to allow for more trees.

Rest assured, re-designing the homes with trees in mind, results in a more energy efficient home, lower energy costs, reduced air conditioning, CO2 emissions and less polluted air.

Current residential development policies rely on public and communal open spaces to compensate for the lack of trees in private yards. Yet, this does not provide energy savings, the researchers said.

Source: https://www.climatecontrolnews.com.au/news/latest/trees-needed-to-reduce-urban-heat