Thinking ahead now to hot summers with smart garden design 

Thinking ahead now to hot summers with smart garden design

Research highlights role of greenery in preventing home overheating

While summer has given way to autumn, one thing remains clear: hot days and tropical nights will become more frequent in the coming years. To prevent overheating, it is important to take measures now. For garden designers and architects, this is the time to integrate sustainable, smart solutions into the garden design, increasing living comfort and preparing homes for increasingly hot summers.

To find out how to guard against residential overheating, VEROZO (the Belgian Professional Association for Sunshades and Shutters) brought together independent experts from the construction and climate sector for a roundtable discussion. The results were compiled in a report* with causes, consequences and possible solutions for residential overheating.

Greenery and shading: the ideal mix

Research shows that greenery around the home provides natural cooling. Strategically placed trees and plantings provide natural shade and cooling through evaporation: plants and trees release moisture into the air, and that process removes heat from the environment. Water features enhance that effect. Outdoor shading, such as awnings, screens and patio covers, also proves to be an effective solution. By blocking solar rays before they even hit the glass, the home heats up less quickly. The combination of less warming and more evaporation through shading and greenery can reduce local temperatures by as much as four degrees.

The heat island effect

"Especially in cities, this is especially relevant. If about 30% of an urban area is covered with trees, that can lower the temperature enough to keep it livable. Because of the so-called heat island effect, cities do not cool as well at night as they do on flatlands. Buildings and pavement store heat during the day and slowly release it at night. As a result, night-time cooling is often limited," says researcher Niels Souverijns of VITO, who was involved in the study. So additional cooling via a well thought-out garden design is not an unnecessary luxury.

Thinking ahead now pays off

A smart garden design really makes a difference: those who bet on greenery and shading from the beginning ensure a pleasant outdoor and indoor space, even during the hottest days. The design phase of a home or garden is the perfect time to advise residents on an integrated approach to heat prevention. By thinking ahead now, homes and gardens will soon be optimally prepared for the warmer summers that will undoubtedly come.

About Harol

In seventy-five years, Harol has developed into one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality durable sun protection, roller shutters, screens and terrace coverings in Europe. All products are custom-made in the factory in Diest (Belgium) and meet the highest quality and safety requirements, giving you years of pleasure from a Harol solution. With the company motto "We believe in natural cooling", Harol is actively committed to starting a movement towards a greener future and opting for sustainable solutions.