Use trees to keep the summer heat away
Shade trees lower cooling costs.
Deciduous trees offer advantages in all seasons. In summer, leafy trees can keep the house cooler by blocking intense sunlight. In winter, when leaves have fallen, light can help warm the interior of the house through passive solar design. On west walls, it may make sense to incorporate trellises, arbors, and planting beds for tall annuals to provide shade where summer heat gainIncrease in the amount of heat in a space, including heat transferred from outside (in the form of solar radiation) and heat generated within by people, lights, mechanical systems, and other sources. See heat loss. is the biggest problem.
Green points
LEEDLeadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED for Homes is the residential green building program from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). While this program is primarily designed for and applicable to new home projects, major gut rehabs can qualify.
-H: 1 point for using trees to reduce the "heat island" effect (SS 3).
NGBSNational Green Building Standard Based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and passed through ANSI. This standard can be applied to both new homes, remodeling projects, and additions.
/ICC-700: 5 points for using trees to increase summer shade (403.6); 1 point for using vine-covered trellises to shade east and west windows (704.3.1.3).
Learn more in the Green Building Encyclopedia
Landscape: Native Plants and Soil
Further resources
