Cool Gardens
Greening your garden for cooling
Vegetation can be thought of as green water. Between 80-95% of a plant’s composition is water, so when we see green areas we are in fact seeing green waterways.
Individual trees can transpire hundreds of litres of water each day – a cooling power equivalent to two average household central air-conditioning units. Forests remain much cooler during the daytime due not only to shade but also because evapotranspiration helps to reduce heat.
Planting green spaces creates cooler microclimates for all species. Increasing canopy cover creates cooling shade and reduces water loss from the soil.
Rainforest Aircon
Bill Dixon, a Springwood resident, believes rainforest gardens can be an adaptation strategy for a changing climate, providing shade and cooler temperatures.
Rainforest species may also help mitigate against ember attack in bushfires due to their dense foliage and less flammable leaves.