Green Streets to Enhance Outdoor Comfort

This chapter describes the positive effects and improvements of green streets on outdoor thermal comfort, considering the relevant influence on human well-being and urban heat island phenomenon in cities. The most influencing characteristics of plant species, which determine outdoor comfort, are described, e.g., foliage shape and dimension, leaf area density, and seasonal cycle. In order to investigate effective factors determining thermal comfort, an analysis of parameters, i.e., wind speed, air temperature, relative humidity, and mean radiant temperature, is provided. Simulation results of summer performances of greenery in urban canyons show different performances depending on the relation between trees and the built environment during day and night.