Hacker News Reader

Comment by zukzuk | Hacker News Reader

A house I lived in during the pandemic had a pergola covered in wisteria vines over the south facing windows. In the summer the vines would leaf out and block most of the hot sun, and in the winter the leaves fell away and let in a ton of light.

Worked great, looked great, and smelled great for the two weeks of bloom in may.

View on HN

This is a great technique that I believe has been used for ages and was re-popularized in recent decades by advocates of ecological and sustainable architecture.

I've heard of grape vines being used in place of wisteria, which might be better in places where the latter is considered an invasive species. There may be other "friendly creepers" with similar deciduous qualities as well.

We’d put something like that near the house if not for the fire risk. I feel like there should be a solution to that problem though.

You can select vine species that are fire-resistant (including grape and wisteria).

Paradoxically, this can make a building more fire-resistant than just having a bare wall. Plants contain water, after all.

https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Fire...

At my first house I built garden beads in the back yard about 4 feet from the house, each with an 8 foot tall trellis for peas and beans. Seeing that lovely green wall outside the window in the summer was the absolute nicest window treatment I've ever had.

My house has three carefully pruned lime trees (not the fruit). Works perfectly for privacy and the exact dynamic you note here.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com