First Name: | Gordon |
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Last Name: | Mann |
Email Address: | gordon@sactree.com |
Affiliation | |
Subject | urban forestry and green building |
Comment |
The use of trees to shade buildings and reduce energy consumption is seriously overlooked in the LEED certifications. The space for planting trees in the best locations to shade buildings, improve air quality, and provide a natural element to the building is missing. The orientation of streets and buildings in new developments could be shifted to locate the street and common trees in the most advantageous shade locations. The use of solar power on individual homes conflicts with the benefit of shading a home with trees. If solar is not the sole power source of a home, when a power failure occurs, the solar power is not viable, reducing the benefit of having solar energy on individual homes. Instead, solar farms or surrogate solar panels should be placed on the top floor of parking structures, large commercial building roofs, and public buildings. The panels can be invested in by individual homeowners or businesses who will receive the same benefits of energy investment in solar on their own building plus the shade benefits of trees reducing the need for solar energy. |
Attachment |
Original File Name:
Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2008-07-30 15:05:48 |
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