Guide wind – Maximize summer cooling

 

Strategically positioning vegetation in landscapes can maximize energy benefits and save money for homeowners, commercial properties and public facilities. Vegetation can be placed within the landscape to manipulate air movement by

  • obstruction,
  • guidance,
  • deflection, and
  • filtration.

Use vegetation to obstruct or block undesirable winds by arranging dense plantings at a 90º angle to the prevailing winds. Vegetation barriers can be single or multiple rows of trees and shrubs. The air speed is affected by the density of vegetation, the distance

What is the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) per pound of coal compared to pound of wood that is released into the air when each is burned?

The amount of carbon dioxide released from coal and wood depends on the type of coal or wood consumed and the moisture contents of both. A very rough estimate is that for each unit of coal or wood consumed, 1.5 units of CO2 are released. Higher-grade coal has higher carbon content so the amount of CO2 released per unit mass would also be higher.

The major difference between the carbon released from burning coal and wood is that …

Where can I find the average wind speed and direction for my area?

Average wind speed and direction data is compiled into a Wind Rose Diagram. The diagram depicts the average direction from which the wind blows (in percentages), and the average wind speeds.
To locate the Wind Rose Diagram for your area, see the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Conservation Service’s National Water and Climate web site. This site has a link to Wind Rose (ftp plot) for states and weather stations.
The National Renewable Energy Lab site:
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