Perhaps trees aren鈥檛 the only green solution when it comes to cooling urban spaces and reducing energy costs. Honeysuckle, Virginia creeper, pink trumpet and other vines could be a fast-growing substitute in climate-smart cities of the future.
Researchers from 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis are leading a nearly $880,000 federal to study how vines may provide cooling and shade in Western states in less time than it takes a tree to grow tall.
鈥淰ines can quickly shade buildings and reduce energy consumption while trees slowly grow to maturity,鈥 said Alessandro Ossola, an assistant professor of plant sciences who is a principal investigator for the project. 鈥淲e believe vines can be an effective and cheap measure to help cities accelerating climate change adaptation.鈥
The grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Agricultural Marketing Service will fund work to plant and monitor at least 10 types of vines on trellises in five locations in different climate zones over three years. California Department of Food and Agriculture is administering the grant.
Using less water
Water conservation will be vital as populations rise, climate extremes become more prevalent and the demand for agricultural and drinking water increases. The goal of this research is to identify vines that can help save energy by providing cooling and reduce the need for irrigated water.
鈥淚n addition to rapid growth rates, vines can be easily integrated with structures to maximize potential cooling effects,鈥 said Loren Oki, a Cooperative Extension specialist with Department of Plant Sciences, who is the project lead. 鈥淏ut we need to understand the relationships between low water-use plants and their ability to reduce thermal loads on buildings.鈥
Two research sites will be in California, with one each in Arizona, Utah and Washington.
The vines will be planted, supported by a trellis and watered regularly during the first growing season to establish deep roots and healthy shoots. Over the next two years, the vines will experience low, moderate and high water allocations.
The vines will be rated on aesthetics, foliage quality, floral quantity, pest and disease resistance, appearance and other factors. Thermal images of trellis coverage and other environmental measurements will also be taken to assess shading and cooling potential, according to grant documents.
Many vines can be grown along cables and wire nets that are actually detached from walls to avoid direct contact and still provide shade, Ossola said.
鈥淲e want to understand which vine characteristics relate to fast growth, reduced water use and increased aesthetic appeal,鈥 he added.
Outreach and education
The findings will enable recommendations to be developed for regions, planners, the landscape industry and the public. It could lead to plants being designated as 鈥渨ater-wise,鈥 鈥渓ow-water use,鈥 鈥渆nergy-saving鈥 or 鈥渃ooling.鈥
Extensive engagement and outreach will also publicize the information.
鈥淐limate change is a great opportunity for the horticultural industry to innovate and promote climate-ready plant productions,鈥 Ossola said.
USDA funding supports research across state lines to find innovative solutions to regional and national problems, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt said in a announcing this and other grants.
鈥淭his year's funded projects will address a range of those challenges, from energy and water saving in vine plants, finding cost-effective solutions for heat tolerance and drought, to addressing food safety risks for produce,鈥 Moffitt said.
Scientists from the University of Arizona, University of Washington, Utah State University and the South Coast Research and Extension Center at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Agricultural and Natural Resources are contributing to the research and will be overseeing vine sites in their states.
Media Resources
This article is reprinted from the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental (CA&ES) website, where it is titled ""
Author Emily C. Dooley is a writer with CA&ES and can be reached at ecdooley@ucdavis.edu and .