ENERGY CONSERVATION: WINDBREAKS, SNOW FENCESAND SHADE BANKS

Paul Patterson, Penn State UniversityDepartment of Animal Science

Demonstrate/Research• Buffers for energy

conservation: – For shade for cooling – As windbreaks/snow fences

to protect barns in winter

Outline• Windbreak• Snow fence• Shade buildings, birds, inlets

Windbreak

Windbreak• Multi-Row Windbreak• Traditional 3 or more

rows of trees and shurbs• Spacing within rows: 6-

15ft deciduous; 6-20ft conifers; 3-6ft shrubs

• Spacing between rows: 12-16ft & for equipment

• Twin-Row High Density• Design uses closer

spacing: 3-4ft shrubs, 6-10ft trees, 5-6ft betw rows.

• Second twin-row (50ft) can be used to trap & store snow

Windbreak• To improve fan performance

Windbreak• For fan performance

Windbreak Plant Materials• Native species, adapted

to climate and soil• Evergreens:– Eastern Red Cedar– Arborvitae– Norway Spruce– Hemlock– Pine

• Deciduous Trees:– Hickory– Oak– Hackberry– Maple– Hybrid Poplar– Honey Locust– Sycamore

Windbreak Plant Materials

• Shrubs:– Willow– Holley– Lilac– Forsythia

• Grasses:– Panicum (switchgrass)– Big bluestem– Miscanthus

Snow Fence

Snow Fence• To prevent drifting snow:– On roofs– At load out doors– Around feed bins– Roads, etc.

Snow Fence• Density: perpendicular & 60-80% density• Height: approx 10X barrier height = snow

deposition distance. Doubling barrier ht increases snow storage 4X.

Snow Fence

Snow Fence• Length: extend beyond house to intercept

winds that deviate 25 degrees from perpendicular

• Plants: preferred species are conifers, shrubs & low growing broadleaf trees. Conifers ideal because of height and year round foliage.

Shade and Cooling Opportunity

Inlets

Birds in Organic Housing Systems

Questions