Individual Design Plan- Shi Shang
The variable I will be investigating is the effect of different types of plants on the cooling effect of
the house.
Objective: to find out which type of plants (vines, shrubs, potted plants, miniature trees, cacti)
will be the most effective at cooling a house.
Hypothesis: Vines will have the best cooling effect because of high evapotranspiration and high
cover, followed by the shrubs, miniature trees, with potted plants and cacti being the least
effective due to their minimal cover and cacti being adapted to dry environments.
Experiment plan
Items needed:
- Model house: Cardboard box with dimensions 50x50x50cm
- Plants: Vines (morning glory, ivy), shrubs (boxwood, lavender), pot plants (peace lilies),
trees (dwarf maple), cacti/succulents (aloe vera, jade plant)
- Temperature sensor for each house
- Soil for planting
- Pots or containers for plants
- Timer to measure duration of experiment
Experiment setup:
1. Prepare 50x50x50 cm cardboard box (making the top removable for ease of
measurement)
2. Preparation of plants
3. Place temperature sensor inside the cardboard box, record external temperature
4. Leave heat lamp 40 cm away from plant to simulate direct sunlight
5. Use light source to simulate sunlight
Experiment Procedure:
1. Control Trial (No Plants):
- Start with the control group: place the cardboard box with no plants in the environment.
- Set the heat source to simulate sunlight and allow the system to stabilize for 30 minutes.
- Measure internal, external, and surrounding temperatures every 10 minutes for 1 hour.
2. Box with Vines:
- Arrange the vines around the box to cover a significant portion of the walls or hang
down.
- Let the system stabilize for 30 minutes.
- Measure temperatures every 10 minutes for 1 hour.
3. Box with Shrubs:
- Arrange the shrubs around the base of the box.
- Allow the system to stabilize for 30 minutes.
- Measure temperatures every 10 minutes for 1 hour.
4. Box with Potted Plants:
- Position potted plants around the base of the box.
- Allow the system to stabilize for 30 minutes.
- Measure temperatures every 10 minutes for 1 hour.
5. Box with Trees (Miniature or Bonsai):
- Position miniature trees or bonsai trees around the box.
- Allow the system to stabilize for 30 minutes.
- Measure temperatures every 10 minutes for 1 hour.
6. Box with Cacti/Succulents:
- Place cacti or succulents around the base of the box or on top.
- Allow the system to stabilize for 30 minutes.
- Measure temperatures every 10 minutes for 1 hour.
7. Repeat Measurements:
- After each trial, allow the box to cool down before repeating the test with another plant
setup.
- Ensure to track the temperature and humidity at the same times for consistency.
Variables:
- Independent Variable: Type of plant category (vines, shrubs, potted plants, ground cover
plants, trees (miniature or bonsai), ferns, cacti/succulents, or no plants).
- Dependent Variable: Internal temperature of the cardboard box.
- Control Variables: External temperature, heat source distance, duration of heat
exposure, size of the box, and measurement intervals.
Data Collection:
- Record temperature data for each trial setup (inside the box, near the plants, and
external temperature).
- Optionally, track humidity levels to observe evapotranspiration effects.
- Monitor the temperature at consistent intervals (every 10 minutes for 1 hour) for each
trial
Data Analysis:
1. Compare Internal Temperatures:
- Compare the internal temperatures for each plant setup (vines, shrubs, potted plants,
ground cover plants, trees, ferns, cacti/succulents, and no plants).
2. Analyze Temperature Differences:
- Assess which plant category provided the most significant cooling effect inside the box
- Identify any trends in temperature reduction, correlating it with plant size, placement, and
shading abilities
3. Graph Results:
- Create a graph of internal temperature vs. time for each plant category to allow easy
comparison.
