Plants Keep the House Cool
Higher plants or trees have always given shade during hot days. Have you ever wondered if smaller plants cool you down when you’re inside your home? This science project will help you find out.
What you need:
- 2 thermometers to measure room temperature. A digital thermometer that can measure outside temperature will be suitable.
- 2 cardboard or shoeboxes
- A small can of white paint
- A small can of dark paint
- Small potted plants
- A lamp with a 100 Watt incandescent bulb
- Different types of potted plants
How to do it:
You must go through three steps for this project.
STEP 1: Shading the house
- Place the two boxes at the same distance from the lamp. This will make them receive the same amount of light.
- Position the thermometers inside the boxes
- Place the plants between the lamp and one of the boxes. The shadows cast by the plants will cover a large area of the boxes.
- Turn your lamp on.
- Measure the air temperature in each box after a period. See which box has a higher temperature. You can add or remove plants. See if the number of plants change the box temperatures.
STEP 2: Painting the house outside
- Paint one box black and the other one white.
- Place the two boxes at the same distance from the lamp.
- Put the thermometers inside the boxes.
- Turn your lamp on.
- Measure the temperature in each box over a period. See which box has a higher temperature. Note if the temperature changed.
STEP 3: Combine painted house with or without shade
- Position the plants between the lamp. One of the boxes must receive the shadow of the plant.
- Turn on your lamp.
- Take the temperature in each box over time. See which box has a higher temperature. Add or remove plants. See which house stays cooler.
Plants are capable of blocking sunlight. They can keep your home cooler. Their leaves reduce the amount of sunlight that hits the house, keeping the house cooler. During winter, leaves fall from the trees surrounding your home. The tree then allows sunlight to hit the house to help keep it warm.
The color of the home (especially the roof) has an impact on the heating and cooling of the home. Dark colors absorb more light, making the house warmer. Light colors reflect sunlight. This helps cool the house during the hot months.