Assessing the cooling and buildings' energy-saving potential of urban trees in severe cold region of China during summer

Even in cold-climate cities under the Ko center dot ppen classification, mitigating high temperatures in urban areas is crucial. This study assesses the cooling capacity and energy-saving potential of local tree species in the severe cold region, building upon existing research on their microclimate-modifying and energy-saving roles. Using numerical simulations in ENVI-met and EnergyPlus, we evaluate five typical urban trees across different urban forms, distinguishing their cooling and shading effects on building energy consumption. Results show maximum air temperature reductions of 0.97 degrees C-2.57 degrees C at ground level and 0.82 degrees C-2.24 degrees C at the canopy level across various local climate zones (LCZs). Mean reductions in physiological equivalent temperature (PET) range from 8.00 degrees C to 20.99 degrees C. Among the tree species studied, Acer exhibits the highest cooling intensity and PET reduction, while Pinus performs the least effectively. Energy-saving rates (ER) range from 0.9% to 8.0% across LCZs, with Acer excelling in LCZ1, LCZ2, and LCZ4, and Populus in LCZ5. Pinus has the lowest ER in all scenarios. Shading contributes significantly to energy savings in LCZ5, while cooling effects are prominent in LCZ1 and LCZ4. This research enhances understanding of urban trees' cooling performance and energy-saving capacities in the severe cold region. Urban planners can optimize tree strategies, improve the thermal environment, reduce energy consumption, and foster sustainable urban development.