Milan, 27 May (LaPresse) – Increasing urban greenery in cities could lower temperatures by up to 3.5 degrees, with beneficial effects on people’s health and the liveability of city centres, as well as on energy consumption at a difficult time for the European economy due to the Hormuz crisis. This is according to Coldiretti, with an orange alert affecting as many as twelve regional capitals across the peninsula and temperatures above 30 degrees, set to rise further. Research by the CNR Institute of Bioeconomics, cited by Coldiretti, highlights the role of trees in moderating temperatures, with significant effects on energy bills too. The record heat is, in fact, accompanied by a rise in energy consumption linked to the widespread use of air conditioners, with a consequent increase in emissions that further fuel global warming. A house surrounded by trees can lead to energy savings of between 80 and 200 euros a year. Plants are, in fact, great natural air conditioners thanks to the shade they provide and the transpiration and photosynthesis of their foliage. Equally important is the presence of agricultural areas near the city. These green belts can also reduce the urban heat island effect by 2–4 degrees in the nearest urban areas.
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