Air conditioning for cooling homes consumes 5% of the electricity generated
in the U.S. With energy costs on the upswing, many homeowners are looking for
options to reduce their cooling bills. Although your first thought on this
matter may be buying a more energy-efficient air conditioner, you might want to
consider using trees and other landscaped plants to shade your home to help
reduce cooling costs.
The heat from the sun which windows and roofs soak up can boost your air
conditioner use. Putting shading ideas into your landscape plans can help lessen
solar heat gain, thus reducing your cooling costs. Shading and
evapotranspiration (which is what the process by which a plant moves and
releases water vapor is called) from trees can reduce temperatures of
surrounding air by up to 9° F (5°C). In fact, air temperatures immediately under
trees can be as much as 25°F (14°C) cooler than air temperatures above nearby
blacktop surfaces, due to the fact that cool air settles near the ground.
Trees can be chosen with appropriate sizes, densities, and shapes for almost
any shading application. You first need to know size, shape, and location of the
moving shadow that your shading plant will cast. For blocking heat in the summer
but letting it in during winter, select deciduous trees. To provide
uninterrupted shade year round, use thick evergreen trees or shrubs.
To provide maximum summertime roof shading, plant Deciduous trees with high,
spreading leaves and branches to the south of your house. Trees with branches
lower to the ground are better suited to the west, since shade there is required
from lower afternoon sunlight. A 6-foot to 8-foot deciduous tree planted close
to your home will start to shade windows it's first year. In 5-10 years the tree
will shade the roof, depending on the species and the climate. If you have an
air conditioner, shading the unit can raise its efficiency by up to 10%.
About the Author
Carlo Morelli writes for OnlineTips.Org, where you can read tips on
radiant heat flooring,
windowless air conditioners, and other home improvement topics.
HOME PAGE GIFT CERTIFICATES EMAIL ALERTS ORDER BY MAIL
WHOLESALE
