Impact of trees on the heating energy demand of buildings: Statistical investigation with in situ and earth observation data

Kurzfassung

Urban trees provide numerous Ecosystem Services, but their influence on the heating energy demand of buildings remains complex and context-dependent. This study statistically investigates the impact of tree cover on heating energy demand using a novel combination of in situ heating data and tree geometries derived from earth observation. A case study in a temperate-climate municipality in southern Germany analyzes the relationship between tree cover and heating energy demand through regression modeling. Results indicate that tree cover on the north side of buildings is associated with a slight reduction in heating demand, likely due to wind-blocking effects. Conversely, tree cover on the south side corresponds to increased heating demand, which can be attributed to reduced solar radiation reaching the buildings. These findings align with existing literature while offering empirical validation based on real-world data. However, due to the study’s limited geographic scope and sample size, results should be interpreted as indicative rather than definitive. The gained insights help urban planners optimize tree placement to balance energy efficiency and Ecosystem Services. Future research should extend this approach to diverse climate zones and larger datasets to improve the generalizability of the findings.