Strategically planted trees can knock as much as 20% off a summer air conditioning bill. Incredibly simple to do, yet most homeowners are ignorant of the cooling properties of shade. For anyone in a warm summer climate, consider this: Fast growing shade trees such as Tulip trees or Sycamores can protect your roof, skylights and windows from direct sunlight for much of the day, if they are planted strategically.
For example, tall trees east of a house throw shade until late morning. Tall trees west of a house begin their shade throwing job in mid to late afternoon, when the sun is at its hottest. Leaving only mid day for full exposure to sol.
Also examine your air conditioner or heat pump. Does it receive direct sunlight for most of the day? Shade on a cooling unit also reduces energy consumption considerably.
Downsides: Don't plant trees too close to your house. They'll create considerable wear and tear on a structure. Tall evergreens are great for summer shade, but they'll also shade your house in the winter, when you want some of that free solar heat to beat down on the house. For that reason, tall deciduous trees are better in areas with hot summers and cold winters. They throw shade in the summer, shed their leaves in the fall and allow sunlight to penetrate the canopy, warming your house in winter.
Leaves make great organic mulch for the garden and compost piles as well. Or you can leave them in place and create large sections of natural areas in your lawn that don't have to be mowed.
To start saving energy in this way all you need is a compass. Track the path of the sun over your house from early spring to late fall. Then the following spring, plant the trees. A tulip tree can grow 40 feet in five years if it's in good soil or gets a little fertilizer, to 60 feet in 10 years. Sycamores have similar growth rates, but do tend to throw more twigs and branches on the lawn. Both are very tough trees that will grow almost anywhere. Albuquerque, New Mexico, a city in high desert has scores of majestic Sycamores. They throw much needed shade on many pedestrian sidewalks and help to beautify the city. |
