Dr Roland Ennos (MA, PhD) - postgraduate opportunities

Vegetation can have an important role in improving the environmental performance of cities, providing cooling, reduction in surface runoff of rain, and absorption of air pollution. The effectiveness of trees, grass, and green roofs is being extensively researched, but far less is known about the possible benefits of living walls: coverings of climbing plants such as ivy. This project will investigate how well living walls can reduce energy exchanges of the buildings they are covering, both by insulating them against cold, and insulating them against the heat and shading them from the sun in summer. The amount of transpirational cooling they provide will also be investigated. This project will provide the knowledge we need to include living walls in climate models and test their effectiveness at helping cites adapt to climate change.

• Ennos, A.R. (2010) Urban cool. Physics World 23 (8), 22-25.
• Gill, S., Handley, J.F., Ennos, A.R. and Pauleit, S. (2007). Adapting cities for climate change: the role of the green infrastructure. Built Environment 33, 97-115.