PERFECT HOMES MAGAZINE ( Editor Stan Israel) by Stan Israel | Page 169

I

f asked to list the benefits of building a
shading structure, like a pergola or gazebo,
in your garden, most people would probably
come up with the same answers. A cool
place to sit under on a sunny day and also an
attractive focal point in the garden.
What almost no one would guess is that a
pergola or gazebo can actually lower your air
conditioning bills.
At first reading that might seem like nonsense.
How can something built in your garden,
possibly not even right next to the house,
have an effect on the temperature inside
the property?
It all has to do with what’s known as the heat
island effect. Whereas natural materials typically
reflect the sun’s rays, while building materials
such as stone and brick absorb more of the

heat, releasing it back into the environment
slowly and causing rises in temperature.

and using so much water on your garden is not
environmentally friendly.

We’ve all experienced it when we’ve been
foolish enough to step onto concrete in bare
feet only to jump back onto the grass with
burned toes.

The materials we at Cape Reed use more than
meet the requirements: the thatching we use
has a Solar Reflective Index of 54.52 and the
timber of 80.31. Even better, the materials
we use come only from sustainable sources,
meaning it’s environmentally friendly too.

In fact surfaces like roofs and paving that are
exposed to direct sunlight can become as
much as 50 degrees Celsi us hotter than the
surrounding air.
By including shaded areas around your villa,
and using materials that don’t absorb as much
heat, you can reduce the load on your air
conditioner by as much as 50 per cent.
The obvious solution is just to plant lots of trees
and grass, but of course this can be extremely
expensive to maintain in the hotter months,

Although the initial investment may be higher
than soft landscaping, the investment will pay
for itself over time through lower electricity bills.
Let’s face it we all enjoy spending time outdoors
especially under the cosy protection of a cape
reed structure, and the materials we use
outside our houses can have a big impact on
the environment, allowing us to spend longer
time outdoors at the weather heats up.

Perfect Homes International Magazine

169