On average, a well-designed landscape provides enough energy savings to return an initial investment in less than 8 years. An 8 foot deciduous (leaf shedding) tree, as an example, costs about as much as an awning for one large window and can ultimately save your household hundreds of dollars in reduced cooling costs, but still admit some sunshine in the winter to reduce heating and lighting costs.
Using shade effectively requires that you know the size, shape, and location of the moving shadow that your soon to be planted “Energy Saving Tree” will cast. Trees can be selected with appropriate sizes, densities, and shapes for almost any shading application. Trees with high, spreading crowns (i.e. leaves and branches) can be planted to the south of your home to provide maximum summertime roof shading. Trees with lower crowns to the ground are more useful on the west side of homes, where shade is needed from lower afternoon sun angles.
Continue reading “Tips For Planting Your “Energy Saving Tree””
