Harnessing the power of green energy does not exclusively mean installing solar panels and wind turbines. Putting some thought into designing your landscape can significantly reduce your home energy needs.
By simply positioning tress in the appropriate places around your property you can save one-third of your energy costs. This should get the attention of anyone that is interested in saving money, especially on energy.
The U.S. Department of Energy states that as few as three (3) well positioned tress on a residential property can reduce heating and cooling energy consumption by as much as 25%. This translates to $150 – $350 per year for most households.
Summer
The main strategy for trees during summer is to provide shade to your house. Filtered sunlight or complete shade will slow the speed at which your house heats up on a summer day. This reduces dependence on mechanical systems to cool your home, like air conditioners and fans.
Another strategy for summer cooling is to plant trees in a pattern that diverts summer breezes towards you house. The movement of air will assist in cooling and reduce the dependence on expensive air conditioning.
Winter
Trees that allow for maximum solar penetration to the home are desirable in winter. The sunlight assists in warming the house and reduces the need for mechanical heating systems, like a furnace for example.
Tree plans that provide shelter from cold winter winds are also desirable. Just like people, homes feel the effects of windchill. If you can protect your house from the worst of the wind you will need less energy for heating.
Outdoors
As well as making a home more aesthetically attractive, trees cool the surrounding outside air through the process of evapotranspiration. This is where a tree moves water from the ground, out through its leaves, and into the surrounding air. As the hot air blows through the canopy it is cooled by the tress.
This can reduce the ambient temperature by up to 9 deg. F (5 c). This simply makes the outdoors a nicer place to be in the heat of summer.
Up-Front Costs
If your property currently has no mature trees, then you will need to outlay some money to plan your energy-efficient landscape, purchase the trees, and have them planted. The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse estimates this initial investment will be recouped in lower energy costs within 8 years. That’s a fast return on investment.
Too many neighborhoods are developed with the removal of all the mature trees. Only the most progressive communities have strict rules about tree preservation. They are simply nicer places to live and more conducive to sustainable living.
Professional Help
Be certain to use the services of a professional landscape architect. This is a project that you want to be done correctly, the first time. They will survey your property end ensure that you will select the climate-specific plants that provide the most benefit for your situation.
Begin with this resource:
American Society Of Landscape Architects
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I just did a uni assignment on exactly this topic! On top of all these benefits there’s the protection/improvements to the soil which then saves you purchasing things like fertilizer, mulch, additional soil that may be list through erosion etc. Even lawn absorbs heat that would otherwise be radiated back towards your home should you selected some other hard landscaping options.
Thanks Victoria, I appreciate your comments. What are you studying right now? I feel like a professional student, having just graduated, again. Ha! Are you still writing? If so, you need to give blogging a go. Awesome fun.
I can attest to all these benefits. We planted two trees in our backyard to shade that side of the house and it has helped keep the sun off and keeps the house cooler. And as the trees in the front of the house have grown we have been getting more shade there too, which is nice.
Thanks Ashley. I’m sure you could use any natural help to cool things down in sunny Arizona. We have planted several trees on our lot that will, eventually, cool things down. They just need to grow up. The developers for our area removed all the trees, and top soil! Homebuyers here had to buy the soil back as an upgrade when moving in. Top-soil, the 27th profit center of property development.
Good article. Trees are often overlooked at climate control machines. Another benefit is having more leaves on your property, which can be collected and used for compost or leaf mulch.
Thanks 101 Centavos. Natural mulch beats buying it from The Home Depot!
Trees are great for keeping the house cool in summer. I love fruit trees and planted cherries, Asian pears, fig, and apple at our old house. We live in a condo now though so we can’t plant any more fruit trees.
Thanks Joe. We have a few fruit trees too; one peach, and three Yoshino cherry trees. They are a little too far from the house to provide much shade, but I’m sure they help to cool things down. If we didn’t have to move next year I would put a few more in. Condo living must tough on a gardener?
I really find it disappointing when older trees are removed, especially for new development. I think neighborhoods without trees look drab as well. Hopefully this info convinces more people to keep trees around and to plan new ones!
Trees really do make a neighborhood look better. Thanks for your comment Jeff.
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Great advice! Save money while helping the planet, can’t beat that. I’m in an apartment now, but if I ever get into a house, will keep this in mind!