Ventilating Shade Structure Inspired by Trees

Innovation: Industry

FootstepFloor

Image: Viktor Talashuk / Unsplash / CC BY SA - Creative Commons Attribution + ShareAlike

Protect From Light

Access to sunlight is crucial to living systems because it’s the primary energy source for life. However, too much sunlight in the form of ultraviolet radiation (UV) can cause damage to living tissues. Therefore, living systems have strategies to filter out some or all UV radiation. For example, some plants that live in areas exposed to long periods of direct sunlight have reflective surfaces (such as white hairs or powder) that reflect UV light.

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Protect From Temperature

Many living systems function best within specific temperature ranges. Temperatures higher or lower than that range can negatively impact a living system’s physiological or chemical processes, and damage its exterior or interior. Living systems must manage high or low temperatures using minimal energy, which often requires controlling responses along incremental temperature changes. To do so, living systems use a variety of strategies, such as avoiding high or low temperatures, removing excess heat, and holding heat in. Insulation is a well-known example of managing low temperatures by retaining heat using thick layers of hair, fur, or feathers to hold warm air next to the skin.

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Fractal Shade Information Flyer
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Patents

The Fractal Shade from FootstepFloor uses fractal patterns to create well-ventilated sunshade and prevent radiant heat.

Benefits

Reduced energy consumption
Reduced air pollution

Applications

Urban planning
Building design

UN Sustainable Development Goals Addressed

Goal 9: Industry Innovation & Infrastructure
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities

The Challenge

The ‘urban heat island effect’ is the phenomena in which cities experience much warmer temperatures than nearby rural areas. These high temperatures cause elevated energy consumption, increased air pollution, and other side effects harmful to humans.

Innovation Details

The Fractal Shade® structure uses Sierpinski Tetrahedrons, a fractal pattern based on the equilateral triangle, to mimic the shade provided by natural tree branches and leaves in a forest canopy. The result is dappled sunlight with continuous air movement, helping to cool the surrounding area.

Biological Model

Staying cool, especially in subtropical regions, is essential. Shade trees provide a cooling effect by blocking sunlight and increasing air moisture. Tree species with rough, dense foliage and light colored leaves provide the greatest cooling benefits to their surroundings.

See Related Strategy

green leaves from a tree with yellow flowers are seen against a light sky

Biological Strategy

Leaf Color and Shape Enhance Cooling Effect

Sand drago

The cooling effects of shade trees in subtropical regions are most influenced by foliage density and leaf thickness, leaf texture, and leaf color lightness.

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