Grass Planting in Schoolyard Cools the Thermal Environment

Taisei Corp., a major Japanese general construction contractor, has used a study to quantify the extent to which thermal environment of schoolyards can be greatly improved by planting lawn surfaces. (Many school grounds in Japan have concrete or dirt surfaces.)

Using its experience in the construction and management of golf courses and soccer stadiums, and its thermal environment technology, Taisei planted an improved variety of Japanese lawn grass it has developed, on 1,500 square meters of an elementary schoolyard in Tokyo's Meguro Ward. Measurements taken in June 2004 found the temperature of the lawn surface to be about 34 degrees Celsius, compared to soil-covered surfaces at about 50 degrees, and an air temperature of 35 degrees.

Meanwhile the company's computer simulator for the heat-island effect predicted a surface temperature of 52 degrees and air temperature of about 37 degrees (60 centimeters above the ground with little airflow) for a soil-covered surface, compared to about 32 degrees and 34 degrees, respectively, for a grass-covered surface. Thus, simulated results were generally consistent with actual measurements.

These results indicate that grass planting helps to improve the thermal environment, lowering the temperature of the ground surface in the schoolyard and as well as the surrounding environment.

http://www.taisei.co.jp/english/index.html

Posted: 2005/11/20 10:01:07 AM
Japanese version