Effects of urban tree sheltering on the heating demand in residential building: A case study in Dublin, Ireland

In 2023, the residential sector was the second-largest energy end-user in Ireland, accounting for approximately 22.5% of the country's final energy consumption. In Dublin's city center, 65% of buildings were constructed before 1970, which falls below modern energy standards. Combined with Ireland's long and windy winters, these substandard buildings exacerbate heating demand. A key challenge in renovating Dublin's building stock is reducing heat loss due to infiltration, which occurs through gaps in building envelopes and is exacerbated by ambient wind. While building upgrades can address the former, the high costs of these improvements present additional challenges. However, urban design offers a potential solution, mitigating wind-driven heat loss through effective wind sheltering.

 

This study examines the impact of urban trees on the heating demand of typical residential building archetypes in Dublin, focusing on how their wind-sheltering effects reduce heat loss via infiltration. By generating localized climate data across various tree layouts and simulating building energy use, this research provides a comprehensive assessment of how urban evergreen vegetation can reduce heating demand. The findings show that urban trees, particularly street trees, can decrease wind-driven heat loss by up to 6.15%. These results highlight the value of urban evergreen trees in enhancing residential energy efficiency. This study offers insights that can inform urban planning and retrofitting strategies in cities with similar climates, contributing to global efforts toward energy sustainability and climate resilience.