EDITOR’S PAGE
Planting a bit of green in your backyard ost people don’t realize that trees can help reduce your monthly energy bill. A few trees planted in the right places can save the average family between $100 and $250 in energy costs annually. Trees that shade a home absorb some of the sun’s radiant energy and reduce the need for air conditioning. Planting deciduous trees on the east and west side of the house will result in the highest savings. Trees on the east side will block the morning sun and those on the west side will shade the house in the afternoon during the months of June, July, and August. It is recommended to use trees with a mature height of at least 25 feet located 10 to 20 feet to the east and west of the house. You can also plant smaller trees or evergreen trees to the northwest and northeast of the home to create late afternoon and early morning shade. If you plant trees on the south side of the house, they will provide shade in the summer if they extend out over the roof. Unfortunately, during the winter they will block the sun’s rays that are needed to help reduce heating costs. To prevent wintertime overshading, remember to plant trees about 2 1/2 times their mature height away from the house to the south. Trees planted to the southeast or southwest should be about four times their mature height from the house. It’s also a good idea to consider planting trees to provide shade on paved or asphalted areas. Heat from the sun is absorbed by dark asphalt, causing the air to be heated. Light colored pavement, such as concrete, typically absorbs less energy, but the heat can still be directed towards the home. Air conditioners should also have shade between the hours of mid-morning and evening. Just remember not to plant trees or shrubs so close to the unit that they block air flow. This will reduce the unit’s cooling efficiency. Keep tree branches pruned back to allow several feet clearance around the unit. Trees can also be effective at reducing energy use for heating by blocking cold winter winds. Wind can infiltrate homes through small openings and carry heat away from the home's outer surfaces. Windbreak trees that have the most effect have crowns that extend
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by Wayne Price
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to the ground and branches that keep their foliage in winter. Junipers, spruces, firs, and evergreen shrubs are good choices for winter wind protection. For best results plant these trees upwind of the area to be protected from the wind. This means finding locations to the west, northwest and north side of the home. Be aware that other factors, such as hills and other tree lines, may cause winter winds to come from other directions. Most experts agree that windbreak trees should be planted in straight or slightly curved rows. They can also be located in linear groupings. Windbreaks should include one or two dense rows or several rows which are less dense. Trees should be close enough so the crown edges meet within a few years without overcrowding. Protection from windbreaks extends up to 20 times the height of the trees. This means the trees do not have to be planted close to the home to make an impact. Just remember that drifting snow will be the worst downwind at two to three times the windbreak height. An additional snow fence may be necessary to control where the snow deposits. Trees should be located far enough away from buildings, driveways and sidewalks so the tree crown has room to grow. Before you plant any tree or shrub, you should be aware of what the mature crown width will be. Trees that can easily be pruned as they grow can be planted closer and allowed to overhang low obstructions. Vines can also shade walls during their first growing season. A lattice or trellis with climbing vines, or a planter box with trailing vines, creates shade to the home's perimeter while still allowing cooling breezes to reach the shaded area. Always consider the location of power lines when planting a tree. Never plant a tree directly under a power line. Trees that grow into the lines are extremely dangerous and can cause electrical outages. They can also result in increased maintenance costs for your local electric utility. Planting a little greenery in the right spots around your home can result in putting a little “green” back in your pocketbook.
Rural Electric Nebraskan