Plant Trees to Save Energy
A simple and inexpensive way to save energy in your home is by using the natural energy saving ability of shade trees. Air conditioning bills can be reduced by as much as 25 percent in a house that utilizes tree shading.
Trees Can Help Block the Sun's Light Energy
By planting trees on the southeast and southwest side of a house, the summer sun can be effectively blocked from transferring its energy into a home. Trees planted to cast shade on pavement hinder the pavements ability to absorb, reflect and radiate heat. Deciduous trees with high spreading crowns work best when planted on the south side of a home and a shorter tree planted on the west to block the setting sun's rays. During the winter deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter allowing the sun's light energy to heat a home. Shading an outdoor air conditioning unit can increase its efficiency as well.
Trees Slow Down Cold Winter Winds
Cold winter winds create lower wind chill factors near homes. The chilly drafts can enter the home through small cracks, reducing temperatures in the home. Cold winds can also cause heat loss by coming in contact with the outside of a home, drawing heat away. Planting trees can help break the penetrating cold from the wind. Plant wind breaks a distance of two to five times their mature height from the house. Evergreen trees such as junipers, spruces and firs planted on the north and northwest of the home can provide effective wind breaking.
Trees Cool the Air Around Them
Trees can also cool the surrounding air using the heat energy to evaporate water off the surface of the leaves. This process is called evapotranspiration, which is to trees like sweating is to humans. It can drop the air temperature by as much as 9º F. The cooler air produced then drops lower to the ground (hot air rises) and combined with the tree's effect of blocking out solar radiation, this can drop temperatures under trees as much as 25º F.
Useful Tree Planting Tips
- Take into consideration the mature tree size and crown when choosing a tree to plant.
- A mature tree can interfere with electrical power lines, or a home's foundation and driveway, so choose locations cautiously.